Media Release

March 3, 2010

The Richmond community today celebrated the completion of a 10 year Master Plan with the opening of the Barkly Gardens Development in the City of Yarra.

Federal Member for Melbourne, Lindsay Tanner, together with Councillor Jane Garrett, Mayor of Yarra City Council, officially launched the new gardens with the unveiling of a plaque and a community barbeque.

The Rudd Labor Government provided $305,000 to the Yarra City Council from the $1 billion Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program.

Lindsay Tanner said: “It is a pleasure to be here in Richmond to celebrate the completion of this project – a long-awaited step forward in this densely populated suburb.

"This area was once a dead-end asphalt road, but has now been transformed into more than 1,100 square metres of landscaped parkland, linking Barkly Gardens with the Alan Bain Reserve.

“This increased green garden space will be invaluable to families, cyclists, sporting groups and walkers living in and around Richmond. It is significant also that the parkland’s design protects and emphasises the 19th century heritage qualities of the area.”

Jane Garrett, Mayor of the Yarra City Council agreed: “Parkland is so precious in the inner-city, so Council is delighted to have worked with the Federal Government to expand Barkly Gardens.

"With a new path to provide cyclists and pedestrians easy access to the Main Yarra Trail, the new gardens will encourage people to get out and active.”

Richmond Primary School which is located opposite the new gardens was involved in the neighbourhood consultation process and will benefit from the additional recreation space. Students from the school were present at the barbeque to celebrate the official opening of the gardens.

The Regional and Local Community Infrastructure program has so far funded more than 3,300 small and larger scale building projects in partnership with local councils, including for new and refurbished public libraries, sporting facilities, parks and playgrounds, and child care centres.

Minister for Infrastructure and Local Government, Anthony Albanese said: “The Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program is a key part of our Economic Stimulus Plan and is delivering local jobs in communities across Australia by building infrastructure for the long term.

"The Program’s remaining $220 million will be made available to councils in coming months, with the Yarra City Council set to receive at least another $115, 000. This additional funding will support even more local jobs and rebuild even more of the nation’s vital community infrastructure.”

Minister Albanese and Minister Tanner congratulated the Yarra City Council and local community for helping to complete this 10 year Master Plan, strengthening Yarra City for the future.

Media Contacts

For Mr Albanese: Moksha Watts 0413 389 070

For Mr Tanner: Kundali Das 0424 278 243

For Ms Jane Garrett: Michael Newhouse 0400 085 012

3 March, 2010