Arron Wood to axe Greenline if elected Lord Mayor

The upcoming City of Melbourne elections have been turned into somewhat of a referendum on Greenline, with Lord Mayoral candidate Arron Wood pledging to scrap the project if elected in October.

The $315 million revitalisation of the Yarra River’s north bank between Birrarung Marr to the Bolte Bridge was the central project of former Lord Mayor Sally Capp’s election platform, with construction already begun in May this year.

But while the council adopted a funding strategy for the project just prior to the former Lord Mayor’s departure from Town Hall, its future is anything but secured given the complex nature of land ownership that stretches the length of the north bank.

While the council had originally sought a matched contribution of $100 million from their Victorian and Commonwealth Government counterparts, it has so far only managed to secure $20 million from the federal government.

Mr Wood, who served as Deputy Lord Mayor under Ms Capp when Greenline was originally conceived, said last month that the project “was flawed from the outset” and has faced escalating costs and changing scope since its inception.

Appearing alongside his candidate for Deputy Lord Mayor Erin Deering at Birrarung Marr on August 25, he said that if elected, the remaining money unspent on Greenline would be redirected to local “community and sustainability initiatives”.

With the City of Melbourne’s population forecast to double by 2050, alongside his wish to ensure that every person has access to a local park, Mr Wood said this included building 21 parks in the next term of council across the municipality, including six entirely new projects.

Around $22.5 million has been spent on Greenline to date, with a further estimated $20 million required to honour existing contracts.

“In stark contrast to Lord Mayor Nick Reece who tore up e-scooter contracts at a whim and with no consultation, we will honour the project contracts that have already been awarded,” Mr Wood said.

“This includes the necessary upgrades to Birrarung Marr – which were due regardless of Greenline, and the completion of Seafarers Rest Park, which was approved long before Greenline was even conceived. “Honouring contracts reflects our belief in responsible governance, fiscal responsibility and saves ratepayers expensive cancellation.”

As the council has only limited authority in Docklands due to the area being under the management of Development Victoria, the plan doesn’t propose any new open spaces for postcode 3008.

But Mr Wood said axeing Greenline wasn’t just about increasing open space, but about “getting back to basics and easing cost of living pressures for ratepayers across the city.”

He added that he would use the savings from Greenline to establish financial counselling service grants for residents and small businesses, review childcare fees and provide additional support to The Salvation Army and The Big Issue.

Melbourne Maritime Heritage Network (MMHN) chair Dr Jackie Watts is among those agree with plans to abandon Greenline, arguing it wasn’t needed to bring the Yarra Birrarung alive.

“Instead, we can enliven the river with projects at minimal cost and impost on businesses or ratepayers while utilising the Yarra Birrarung trails and heritage assets that already exist,” Dr Watts said.

But fellow Lord Mayoral candidate Gary Morgan, who is understood to be preferencing Nick Reece at the upcoming election, is among those who don’t agree with Mr Wood’s plan.

“Arron Wood’s call over the weekend to scrap the ‘Greenline trail’ project is wrong,” Mr Morgan said. “The Yarra River is an essential part of Melbourne. Everyone in Melbourne, whether visitors or residents, wants safe and ready access to enjoy the Yarra.”

“On either side of the river residents of East Melbourne, South Yarra, Southbank, Docklands, and the CBD understand that safety for pedestrians and cyclists next to the Yarra, is essential so everyone can enjoy a Greenline trail.” •