The Parklands Code

The Parklands Code was adopted by more than 40 organisations in October 1995 as a single, sensible set of criteria which allows the reasonable use of parks without destroying their unique values. It was agreed that all political parties be asked to endorse the Code and incorporate its principles into their political platforms. It was also agreed that the Code needs to be accompanied by documentation that outlines the legal, financial and management elements which needs to be applied in its implementation. The Parkland Principles were adopted in interim form at the Planning Crisis Conference convened in July 1996 by the Town and Country Planning Association.

The public parks, gardens, bushland and open spaces of Melbourne are central to the cultural, recreational and sporting traditions of our city.

They belong to the community.

The parklands are vital assets and adequate resources must be devoted to maintaining them. They provide the essential balance against the environmental impact of continuing urban growth.

There must be legal safeguards against commercial interests and state and local government projects that threaten them.

Any proposal that would alter existing forms of recreational use or diminish or degrade parklands must be subject to full and open community consultation and objective assesment.

Positive environmental and social outcomes must be demonstrated before any changes are made and there must be an undertaking that any open spaces lost are replaced with areas equal in size and quality.

Melbourne has inherited a world class system of open spaces of which it has long been proud.

Our parks, gardens, bushland and open spaces must be preserved.

All over Victoria, community groups are campaigning to halt the environmental destruction being wrought by the State Government in the name of progress. A number of them* have collaborated to write this Parklands Code.

*Reproduced from the City Alternative News, Nov 1995.

Acland Street Residents' Association
Australian Conservation Foundation
Blackburn & District Tree Preservation Society
Brunswick Community History Group
Coalition Against Freeway Extensions
Coalition of Residents Against Ministerial Planning
Doncaster and Templestowe Conservation Society
Environment Victoria
Environmental Education in Early Childhood
Friends of Merri Creek
Friends of Organ Pipes National Park
Friends of Sherbrooke Forest
Friends of the Yarra
Friends of Wattle Park
Friends of Williamstown Wetlands
Greenlink Camberwell
Greenlink Oakleigh
Hillcrest Association
Householders' Options to Protect the Environment
Koonung Mullum Forestway Association
Melbourne Womens Walking Club
Mt Evelyn Environment Protection & Progress Association
North Carlton Association
Parkville Association
Pascoe Vale Naturalists Club
People's Committee for Melbourne
Port Philip Conservation Council
Prahran Residents Association
Princes Park Protection Association
Public Transport Users Association
Rainbow Alliance
Save Albert Park
Save Princes Park
Save the Dandenongs League
South Parkville Precinct Environmental Group
The North Melbourne Coalition for Local Democracy
Town & Country Planning Association (Victoria)
Uniting Church - Victorian Synod
Upper Yarra and Dandenongs Environment Council
Upwey Regional Action Group for the Environment
Victorian National Parks Association
Yarra Bend Protection Group