Melville delays budget call for long-debated public open space in Mt Pleasant

Plans to turn prime riverfront land in Mt Pleasant into usable open space are again on hold after Melville councillors this week delayed budget progression for the project.

Concept designs reveal playgrounds, raised garden beds and open grass areas for 13 The Esplanade, which sits within a Canning Bridge precinct fast filling up with residential towers that some believe is devoid of enough green areas.

But on Tuesday night, councillors opted not to endorse the concept designs and to delay a budget call on developing open space.

Members of the public at the council meeting slammed a suggestion to revisit selling the land for commercial gain.

Cr Scott Green, who was elected last October, had indicated he would lead a rescission motion to again investigate development options for the site.

His motion — which was withdrawn before the meeting began — cited that since negotiations had begun in 2013, the value of the land had more than doubled.

“The combined value of this land should now be greater than $20 million,” Cr Green had written in supporting comments.

“As such, these sites are significantly valuable assets that should be delivering significantly more community benefit than the current council resolutions allow for.”

The council agreed to move ahead with converting the hotly debated riverfront land into public open space in April last year.

Cr Green said public consultation undertaken since had revealed more than 70 per cent of those surveyed did not want a playground or exercise equipment and that their biggest concern was a loss of parking.

Several people — including former councillor Margaret Sandford — took the opportunity to publicly chastise the intent of the rescission attempt, even though it was never considered by the council.

“While it has been withdrawn, the consequential reputational damage to — and lack of trust in — this council is immeasurable,” Ms Sandford said.

“People have rightly been very angry and distressed.

“The merits of parking (at this site) have been debated to death.”

Cr Karen Wheatland later moved a deferral motion to pause the planning and funding until at least May, despite saying she was a “massive supporter” of public open space.

An officer’s report had recommended adopting an immediate project budget of $100,000 and a further $1.6 million to be allocated in the 2024-25 budget.

Cr Wheatland said that would have been a large amount of money to allocate.

“We’re already spending one per cent of the rate income on the climate change commitment,” she said.

“There are a wide variety of views among the councillors here.

“There are discerning reasons what we want in this area, although it’s been put up for public open space.”

She said any decision regarding the space should be considered in the context of a long-term financial plan.

“We’ve got to understand the financial implications that this will have on other projects in every ward across the city,” she said.