Merlynston Linear Park - Development (Stage 1)

Works completed in Stage 1

Merlynston Linear Park Development - Stage 1 works were implemented between 2014 and 2016.

A new play space at Sanger Reserve, corner Lily Sreet and Guilfoyle Avenue, Coburg North, opened on Monday 14 December 2015. The play space features beautiful nature play elements, a double swing, basket swing, embankment slide and spring rockers. Native plantings complement the existing trees within the new play space. 

Continuing delivery of the Merlynston Creek Park Development Plan, a basketball half court was installed in Sanger Reserve. A concrete footpath along the east side of Audrey Avenue was also installed.

See Merlynston Linear Park - Development (Stage 2) for works carried out in the second phase of this project.

Background: Merlynston Creek Park Development Plan

The Merlynston Creek Park Draft Development Plan was developed with the input of the Merlynston Sustainability Group and Melbourne Water, and was endorsed by Council in March 2015.

The plan is long term plan to improve this open space over several years and is dependent on funding being available to achieve the overall vision.

The vision for the Merlynston Creek Park is to reinvigorate the network of parks along the corridor by providing a diversity of experiences for our community and providing valuable habitats. The aim is to provide a well designed space close to home for people to exercise, walk their dogs, socialise, relax, play, connect with others and nature, and to overall improve the liveability of Merlynston.

The key components of the plan are:

• To improve the pedestrian and bike links through the area
• Tree planting and landscaping
• A play space to complement the parkour structure (the yellow balls) on the corner of Lily/Guilfoyle Streets, including shelter and natural play
• Small play and potentially exercise sites in various locations along the network of parks
• Community orchards - this will be dependent on the community being actively engaged in caring for the orchards
• Water sensitive urban design solutions, such as rain gardens, where appropriate
• Investigation of an off-leash dog section in the park (the whole area is currently designated an on-leash dog site), and
• Traffic calming measures on the roads linking the parks.

Project overview

The string of parks, including Sanger Reserve, from Boundary Road to Pallett Street, Merlynston, is the site of the draft Merlynston Creek Park Development plan. This site is noted by Merri-bek City Council as a potential habitat corridor as well as a long term cycling link from Hadfield to Coburg North. This neighbourhood is also identified lacking adequate play opportunities for the Merlynston community. The parklands are currently undeveloped, apart from some minor work in Sanger Reserve.

Merlynston Creek runs from the north of Barry Road near the Upfield Railway Station in Hume through to Merri Creek, Coburg. The majority of the creek is above ground to the Fawkner Memorial Park where it heads underground at Boundary Road, Merlynston, below Hosken Reserve and through the industrial estate to Sydney Road then comes back up before entering into Merri Creek above Lake Reserve.

The request to develop this string of parks came through very strongly from the community during the development of Merri-bek’s Open Space Strategy in 2012. This request was supported by Council due to the lack of quality open space available to this community.

Melbourne Water own the section of the park between Boundary Road and Tonkin Avenue and Council is working with Melbourne Water to develop this section of the park. The piped creek under the parks does mean there are some limitations on how the park can be developed, but Council is working with Melbourne Water to ensure the best outcome for the community.