City’s Biggest New Park Complex Takes Shape
Click here to read the original article by Samantha Landy for Herald Sun, 19 July 2016.
The second stage of what’s expected to be the largest park complex built in inner Melbourne since Birrarung Marr in 2002 is under way.
“NewQuay Central Park” is taking shape around the rising Banksia apartment tower — just south of Harbour Town shopping centre and the Melbourne Star Observation Wheel.
According to developer MAB Corporation, the 4600sq m park will combine with the 2.2ha Ron Barassi Snr Park, completed last year, and a planned 4000sq m linear park to provide 3.06ha of green space for the NewQuay precinct.
In comparison, Birrarung Marr is 8ha in size.
MAB Corporation General Manager of Residential David Allt-Graham said the three parks would flow into each other as a “series of green spaces” in the centre of NewQuay’s developing residential precinct.
He said the Central Park and luxury Banksia tower would be constructed together, with their completion expected by the end of next year. The project is due to cost $140 million.
The north-facing park will capture the sun all day and contain only Australian species of plants, to match the native flower-inspired design of the 108-unit building.
“It will feel quite relaxed and different to many of the city parks, which are quite English,” Mr Allt-Graham said.
“(The three parks) will put the NewQuay area amongst some of the greenest inner-city residential areas.”
The NewQuay precinct is expected to be finished within five years.