Belmore Park Fence
19/11/2018 - Belmore Park Fence
Belmore Park Fence
Moved by Councillor Thalis, seconded by Councillor Forster –
It is resolved that:
(A) Council note:
(i) the Belmore Park Draft Plan of Management was developed back in 1993;
(ii) the City's Chinatown and City South Public Domain review in 2015 recommended:
(a) a Master Plan be developed for Belmore Park;
(b) accessibility, appearance and amenity of the park for all users be improved;
(c) entrances to the park and, where possible, the permeability of the park’s edges be improved;
(d) the sense of openness within the park be improved;
(e) that the fence and understorey planting along the western edge of the park be removed to improve physical and visual permeability; and
(f) new access points be created from the footpath along the western viaduct into the park;
(iii) the City is working on an updated City South Public Domain Plan;
(iv) governments in other jurisdictions are working on projects that open up, improve access, and lower and remove fences around their parks (e.g. Parks Without Borders in New York City);
(v) Belmore Park is a key pedestrian route between Haymarket and Central Station;
(vi) entrances to Belmore Park are limited to Eddy Avenue and Hay Street; and
(vii) Belmore Park is situated in between two high embankments that support road, light rail and heavy rail and that create a significant barrier for people accessing the park; and
(B) the Lord Mayor be requested to write to the Minister for Transport requesting:
(i) the removal of the fence along the western boundary of Belmore Park; and
(ii) installation of additional entry points (particularly in the south-western corner of the park for people walking to and from Railway Square, Central Railway Station and the Light Rail terminus).
Carried unanimously.
S129265