Through the period of the current Open Space Strategy 2012 – 2022 , Merri-bek’s population has greatly increased. Between the years of 2016 and 2021 specifically, our overall population increased by approximately 5.4%. Population forecasts estimate that our population will continue to increase which will have an influence on the quantity and type of housing that Merri-bek needs today and in the future. The share of people living alone in medium and high-density housing is also growing which will lead to smaller homes (with smaller backyards).

The new Open Space Strategy will take future population growth and housing densification into account. Population and densification forecasting is being explored now as this Strategy is being created. The creation of the new Strategy will therefore explore our Merri-bek future and what new (and type of) open space is needed.

The new Open Space Strategy will also build upon the Merri-bek Community Vision 2021 – 2031, which is a guiding platform for our municipality. The Community Vision is that:

“Merri-bek is our home. We respect and look after our land, air, waterways, and animals. We care for our people and celebrate our diverse stories, cultures, and identities.

“Merri-bek is enhanced by all of us supporting our local businesses, arts communities and social organisations.

“We work together proactively and transparently to continue to create a:

• vibrant
• safe
• healthy
• resilient
• innovative
• regenerative community.

"Many faces, one Merri-bek.”

The COVID 19 pandemic has changed the way people live, work, and get around. It has also changed how we value and rely on our open space. Anecdotal stories from residents have included residents using open space more and in different ways than before the pandemic. This includes discovering new local parklands and using creek corridors they had not previously used. This was particularly highlighted in Merri-bek during several periods of 5km radius lockdowns when our community members were confined to their 5km locale. It has ultimately increased focus and attention to the importance of local and varied open space.

Concurrently, the pandemic also increased pressure upon our open space due to unprecedented use.

Before the pandemic and during lockdowns, our Merri-bek residents communicated the need for better quality open space. This includes the need for better formal sports facilities, providing safer informal open spaces, creating more dog parks, and enhancing our playgrounds.

This new appreciation of our open space provides an ideal and unique opportunity to reflect on how we use our spaces and how we can better provide for our residents and users in the future.

Gaps in our open space network

The Park Close to Home framework aims to ensure all residents are within either 300m (if within high density zoning) or 500m of open space. To create open space in areas outside of these 300m and 500m distances, Council has been buying land on the mainstream property market and creating new parks. Council has created several news parks via this program, including:

• Bulleke-bek Park, Brunswick
• Garrong Park, Brunswick
• Citadel Park, Glenroy

Several parks are also in the planning and construction phase, including future parks at:

• 1 Frith Street, Brunswick
• 260 Sydney Road, Brunswick
• 498-508 Bell Street & 33 Westgate Street, Pascoe Vale South
• 41 – 43 Service Street, Coburg.

These new open spaces have been specifically developed to reduce the open space gaps identified in the Park Close to Home program and improve community access to open space. There are however remaining gaps in our open space network which will require several new parks to be created.

Quality of our open space

Whilst we have also heard from our community that we need more open space overall, we have also heard about the need for specific types of open space and a need to improve the quality and maintenance of our existing open space. This includes specific requests for:

• Dog parks and dog park facilities (i.e. dog agility equipment, separate fenced areas, ‘small dog’ areas and ‘large dog’ areas)
• Creation or improvement of specific sport facilities (such as a hockey ground, more soccer pitches, and more football fields)
• Upgraded and additional playgrounds and playgrounds with a different focus
• BMX / mountain bike / cyclocross facilities
• Greater informal recreation spaces (such as running routes and linear corridors)
• Improved safety in our open spaces, including lighting, seating, improved view lines, etc
• Greater shade, drinking fountains, bins, seating, and BBQ facilities
• Overall improved maintenance across the entire open space portfolio in Merri-bek.

Our open spaces serve many functions, often at the same time. For example, a sportsfield can serve a function as a formal sports club ground, whilst also servicing a function as open space outside of playing hours for informal sport and recreation, and dog walking. Similarly, a playground can be a space for children to play as well as a congregation space for adults, as well as a space for nature and biodiversity habitat.

An emerging challenge is the increasing pressure and demand for our open space to serve many functions. This is further intensified by increased demand due to increasing population and urban densification. The strategy will explore this increasing pressure and demand and aim to provide a rationale for how to tackle these challenges.