Victoria Is Set to Score a Huge 6500 Hectares of New Parkland

If you're partial to a healthy dose of Mother Nature, here's yet another excuse to get out there and enjoy it. Victoria is on track to score a huge infusion of green space, with the State Government announcing that $154 million of the Victorian Budget 2019/20 will go towards creating a swag of new parkland across the inner city and outer suburbs. In fact, over 6500 hectares worth of new parks, walking tracks and bike trails are planned, equating to a space over 170 times the size of Melbourne's Royal Botanic Gardens.

This hefty nature boost will see extra parkland created in growing suburban areas including Officer, Clyde, Craigieburn, South Morang and Carrum, while 16 existing green spaces and off-leash dog parks will score upgrades. That means your local patch could soon be in for improved playgrounds, toilets and picnic facilities. The much anticipated 355 hectares of green space between Moorabbin and Dingley Village, known as the Sandbelt Parklands, will also finally be delivered.

In addition to this, 25 new pocket parks will be created in the more built-up inner city suburbs. Prahran, Richmond, Albert Park and Bentleigh are set to get two parks each, while Footscray, Brunswick, Northcote, Williamstown, Essendon, Oakleigh, Caulfield, and Ivanhoe will score one a piece.

This map below shows which areas will score more green space.

There's good news for local camping fans, too, with another $107.2 million in funding going towards building new campgrounds, upgrading facilities and improving walking tracks. And, while the Victorian Government's already scrapped camping fees at over 70 campgrounds across the state, it's now promised to go one better and halve all remaining fees in our state and national parks. That camping trip you've been plotting is looking more attractive than ever.

The Budget is currently up for debate in the upper house, but is likely to be passed. The Andrews Government will then set about actioning the items in the budget. With all this new green space, it will be hoping to claw back its title as the most liveable city in the world.

Image: Visit Victoria.