AUSTRALIA
Melbourne Cricket Grounds ’ worth of green open space .
Local involvement But the proposed development of the nine-metre-high elevated rail hasn ’ t been without controversy .
In December 2016 , protest group Lower Our Tracks lost a Supreme Court bid to stop the project , claiming the Government failed to properly consult the public and kept the plans secret to avoid a political outcry .
Residents opposing it claimed it would lower property values due to being ugly and noisy , but Summers says opinions are slowly changing .
“ Obviously , the biggest challenge we ’ ve faced on this job is changing that perception and history that ’ s come before us ,” he says . “ Early on , that was a challenge , but over the last 12 to 18 months we have seen the pendulum swing from the broader community that can see the benefits .”
Summers stresses the importance of the community having an active role in the future of the new open space , and has formed an independent expert panel to make sure the right mix of local knowledge and technical expertise feed in to the design .
Chaired by the head of the Royal Botanic Gardens , Professor Tim Entwisle , the Community Open Space Expert Panel also includes members of local communities , councils , and organisations such as Bicycle Victoria , Victoria Police and the Office of the Victorian Government Architect . They will present their recommendations to LXRA later in 2017 .
“ A lot of it came back to wanting to leave a legacy behind ,” he explains . “ This isn ’ t just about removing level crossings in a transport project . It ’ s actually about leaving a legacy that improves everybody ’ s lives there .
A dedicated $ 15 million maintenance fund will be established to make sure the space is well-cared-for long after the project has wrapped up . But getting the community on board early on is just as
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