A new park for families and children has opened in Fishermans Bend, in another major step in the transformation of the area.
The name of Kirrip Park was chosen through an extensive community consultation process by City of Port Phillip. ‘Kirrip’ means friendship or mate in the Boon Wurrung language.
The 9,000 square metre park is equivalent to around 20 netball courts and is diagonally opposite the new South Melbourne primary school that opened in February this year.
Jointly purchased by the City of Port Phillip and the Andrews Labor Government, the park will give much needed open space to the growing Fishermans Bend community and students at the adjacent school.
The new park is part of the Ferrars Street Education and Community Precinct, a catalyst project for Fishermans Bend that provides more public space, community services and facilities for the growing community.
The precinct features Victoria’s first vertical primary school, which is finishing its first year of operation. To improve safety, accessibility and connections to the surrounding area, nearby tram stops and street intersections have been upgraded, with streetscaping to be finished by the end of the year.
The project marks the transformation of the old industrial site into a new and vibrant area for the growing Fishermans Bend community.
Further development of the park will be carried out in consultation with the community to determine what other elements are needed to support a wide range of recreational activities and uses.
Fishermans Bend is Australia’s largest urban renewal project covering around 485 hectares in the heart of Melbourne.
It is expected that by 2050, it will be home to approximately 80,000 residents and provide employment for up to 80,000 people.
Quotes attributable to Member for Albert Park Martin Foley
“This park is a great example of how we are undoing Matthew Guy’s mess at Fishermans Bend.
“Our partnership with the City of Port Phillip and the City of Melbourne has been at the heart of delivering a better future for Fishermans Bend and the neighbouring communities.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020