Stonnington is advocating for measures that support us to improve access to public and green spaces.
Our vision
Stonnington Tomorrow is our Council Plan for 2025 to 2029. It outlines our vision of being a place where everyone has access to quality public and green spaces.
Stonnington currently has the second-lowest amount of public open space per person of any Victorian council. We want to:
- maintain, expand and enhance our parks, playgrounds, and nature reserves
- ensure our public green spaces are easy to get to
- support public green space for use in recreation, sport, play, arts and culture, community events, and activations.
Open space has a range of benefits, including improved health and wellbeing, support for our biodiversity, and mitigation of climate change impacts.
The need for partnership
The State Government owns significant land in Stonnington and we welcome the chance to open this for public use. We also seek partnerships to make private open space, such as school grounds, available to the public.
We need funding to invest in, upgrade, diversify and maintain our open spaces. This will allow us to:
- respond to climate change
- deliver outcomes that acknowledge First Nations history and ongoing connection to Country
- maximise biodiversity and recreation outcomes
- deliver an open space network for our expanding and diverse community.
Victoria’s 30-year infrastructure strategy
This advocacy priority aligns with the following recommendations in Victoria’s 30-year infrastructure strategy 2025-2055:
- Recommendation 17 – Help government schools share their grounds
Policy asks
Open public and Crown Land
Opening schools and other public and Crown Land will:
- maximise open space access for the community
- allow active and passive recreation on sites that are otherwise unused or underused
These goals are consistent with our 30-year Infrastructure Strategy.
Land adjacent to rail corridors could be opened and made greener and more accessible. This would provide better connected open space, urban forest, public amenity and active transport.
Return Peace Park to Stonnington
Stonnington ratepayers have funded maintenance and enhancement of Peace Park for more than 40 years. There has been no assistance from successive State Governments.
The Department of Transport and Planning has designated the land as surplus to requirements and intends to sell it. This suggests that Council will have to purchase the site to retain it as public open space. This disregards the history and significance of this land in a designated activity centre.
Protect and expand the tree canopy on private land
More than 66% of land in Stonnington is privately owned. This land contains more than 50% of Stonnington’s urban forest.
Council welcomes the Plan for Victoria target of 30 per cent tree canopy cover for urban areas. However, changes to residential codes will reduce the canopy on private land. This moves us further from that target and reduces the tools available to us to protect trees and encourage more planting.
Protect and enhance public housing tower redevelopments
Council has consistently advocated for architectural and urban design quality in public housing redevelopments.
This ensures new developments are inclusive, safe and climate resilient. They will also be an appropriate height, scale and density to allow integration with the surrounding neighbourhoods in Prahran and South Yarra. This should not compromising neighbourhood amenity or existing and future public open spaces.
Protect and enhance open space provision with Activity Centres
Built form controls and funding streams should protect and enhance public open space availability in densely populated activity centres. This must consider how they will become a liveable precinct with access to community infrastructure and open space, beyond housing delivery.
Key projects
Council has a number of projects ready for delivery if we secure funding from external partners.
| Project |
Funding |
About the project |
| KooyongKoot Masterplan |
$2.5 million |
Stage 3, the Gardiners Creek Shared User Path upgrade, to widen the path and facilitate active and passive recreation as well as biodiversity outcomes. |
| Open space development |
$3 million |
Develop 10 Scott Grove, Glen Iris into parkland and recreation space |
| Open space development |
TBC |
Funding of various quantums for the Zelman Cowen sporting and nature precinct |
| Playground upgrades |
$600,000 |
Upgrade playground, shelter and barbecue space at Ardrie Park, Malvern East, to support safety and amenity |
| Playground upgrades |
$400,000 |
Upgrade the playground and add a new shade sail to Argo Park, South Yarra, to support safety and amenity |
| Playground upgrades |
$500,000 |
Relocate the public toilets at Ardrie Park, Malvern East, to support safety and amenity |
| Pocket parks in activity centres |
Up to $1 million |
Upgrade and construct Balmoral and Perry St Pocket Park, South Yarra. |
| Pocket parks in activity centres |
$400,000 |
Convert Chris Gahan Centre to open space, with pedestrian connections to Izett St Pocket Park, Prahran |
| Pocket parks in activity centres |
Up to $700,000 |
Construct a pocket park at Porter and Grattan St, Prahran
|
| Regional accessible playgrounds |
$2.5 million per playground |
Funding for regional accessible playgrounds at Phoenix Park and Orrong Romanis. |
| Williams Street Park |
$880,000 |
Create new open space at William Street, South Yarra. |
More information
For more information, please visit our Advocacy page.