Locals are being urged to save the date ahead of a huge family day set to celebrate 11 MCGs’ worth of new open space, five stations open to passengers and nine level crossings gone for good.
Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan joined Member for Oakleigh Steve Dimopoulos at Carnegie today to mark the start of works to build and landscape 6.2 hectares of brand new parkland through Carnegie, Murrumbeena and Hughesdale.
Several trees have now been planted in this area, while the first fitness station has also been installed.
Plans are also afoot for a community celebration day, which will be held on Saturday, 13 October at various locations around the three sections of elevated rail opened this year.
Dubbed ‘Corridor Carnival’, the event will give people on both sides of the rail line an opportunity to come together and celebrate the new open space and for the project team to say thank you to the community for their patience during construction.
Plenty of activity will be on offer for all ages alongside new open space features including sports courts and outdoor gyms. This new parkland will provide much-needed green space for the City of Glen Eira, which has the least amount of open space of any municipality in Melbourne.
It will also connect communities long divided by the rail line, thanks to a series of paths linking north and south sides of the tracks, in addition to a 17-kilometre rail trail starting from Monash University’s Caulfield campus.
While new public space through the City of Glen Eira will mainly consist of grass and trees, a dedicated recreation zone is also being built close to the bustling Koornang Road shopping strip at Carnegie.
Designed to have all-ages appeal, the space will have exercise equipment, table tennis tables and basketball half courts along with an ‘urban-lounge’ style seating area.
Open space works are set to be fully complete by the end of 2018.
Carnegie locals will also be big winners of the Andrews Labor Government’s announcement to build a Suburban Rail Loop which will see a super-hub at Clayton, providing easy connections to the university, hospital and jobs.
As noted by Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan
"This will be the biggest release of new urban parkland in Melbourne’s history – an historical achievement and one worth celebrating."
"Nine dangerous level crossings have been consigned to the past, now we’re planning for the Suburban Rail Loop to get people where they need to go sooner – wherever they live."
As noted by Member for Oakleigh Steve Dimopoulos
"It’s exciting to see parks, paths and fitness stations starting to replace what was a tired old rail line."
"I encourage local community groups to get involved in the Corridor Carnival and I’m looking forward to coming together to explore the new open space."
