Dear Members and Friends,

At the 2024 AGM we resolved to deregister the group in June 2025 which allowed for the new Master Plan to be completed…..however, the Master Plan was withdrawn after much feedback and was intended to be issued June 2026, so we delayed our deregistration till then……but is still pending – now likely August 2026!

We have decided that we will still deregister as of 30 June 2026 (or shortly thereafter).

As a reminder to everyone, the RPPG was formed in 1996 as the proposals for development in the Park were of such significance that a group of concerned locals got together with the object of focussing entirely on the Park and its future.

The initial Convenor of the Group was Angela Munroe and then later Julianne Bell, both wonderful representatives and speakers on behalf of the Park.  They spearheaded the protests against the loss of parkland which was due to:

• SNHC development – (and especially lights on the hockey field which were incorrectly chosen and took until recently to be changed!!)
• Commonwealth Games Village
• Zoo Car Parking expansions
• East West Link
• RCH renewal project

 Much time and money was spent on fighting many of these issues through VCAT and similar review panels, often with legal advice and/or assistance.

Many other issues arose including input to the Master Plans; keeping a close eye on the expansion of ovals for formal sports; vegetation planning; objections to use for polo(!); hot air balloon landings on grass circle; and many more.

The Group also was a major player in organising weeding and planting bees in the Park to implement the vision of the original Master Plan.

With our Group “closing” we encourage you to join one or more of the following Groups to continue your association with the Park.

• Parkville Association (parkvilleassociation@gmail.com)
• Friends of Royal Park (friends@royalpark.org.au)
• Protectors of Public Lands (website: https://protectorsofpubliclandsvictoria.com.au/)

Thanks for all your support through the years.

All the best!

Submissions close Sunday 23 February at 5pm.

Please make a submission – the current draft is a tragedy!

A number of Groups have put together the attached sheet to help you with some ideas but please just write about what you love in the Park!

See Briefing Notes – Draft Royal Park Master Plan

Working Bees are currently scheduled for the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month, 10am – 12noon and include plantings, weeding, seed collection, propagation of indigenous seedlings in the nursery, working with Council and other organisations’ programs and activities. Details of meeting place will be emailed and put on our Facebook page.

One of our keen members and photographer has put together a series of photos of the work on the Bren’s area over the series of plantings and weedings, see link below:

https://www.flickr.com/gp/petepetinatos/0b1w5WL94F

Royal Park Protection Group is holding a GENERAL MEETING with an update of the Royal Park Master Plan project to be presented by Fiona Finlayson from City of Melbourne.

Fiona is Manager Open Space Planning and Green Infrastructure | Parks and City Greening with the City of Melbourne.

This is an issue of importance to us all!!

When: SATURDAY June 18th 2022

Time: 1.45pm for 2pm start

Location: Walmsley House  161 Gatehouse Street Parkville

RSVP: please let us know if you plan to come 

As Covid is still active, face masks should be worn.

Afternoon tea will be provided

Friends of Royal Park will join us for this important presentation

The good spring rains have helped the new plantings, but also have meant lots of weed growth! 

Actual sites to be confirmed.

Meeting point details will be provided. There is lots of weeding to be done.

BYO gardening gloves, water bottle, sun hat, raincoat as needed.  Morning tea provided.

The Covid risk is still there, so caution and safety procedures will still apply.

At the moment numbers will be restricted to 15

You need to sign the register and check in with QR code (or signing in) required; all participants will need to show proof of their full vaccination.

 Masks should be worn and social distancing will apply

If the limits and requirements change we will advise promptly

First off will be a small group (4-6 people) working bee in the nursery, preparing tubes for the pricking out of small seedlings in a bigger working bee.

Meet at the park gate to the nursery (off the The Avenue – see map below) (Melway 2B B3).  BYO water bottle.  Morning tea provided. 

You must notify Kaye if you intend participating – 9329 0635 or koddie@bigpond.com

The Covid risk is still there, so caution and safety procedures will still apply.

At the moment numbers will be restricted to 15

You need to sign the register and check in with QR code (or signing in) required; all participants will need to show proof of their full vaccination.

 Masks should be worn and social distancing will apply

If the limits and requirements change we will advise promptly

The Brens remnant planting that we did earlier this year now is in need of weeding.

Meet at the Brens Remnant Vegetation Site (walk up path from Park corner at Manningham St/Southgate St, Parkville West (Melway 2A F1)

BYO gardening gloves, water bottle, sun hat, raincoat as needed.  Morning tea provided.

Please let Anne know if you plan to attend – – 0412 279 156 arp4@bigpond.com

The Covid risk is still there, so caution and safety procedures will still apply.

At the moment numbers will be restricted to 15

You need to sign the register and check in with QR code (or signing in) required; all participants will need to show proof of their full vaccination.

 Masks should be worn and social distancing will apply

If the limits and requirements change we will advise promptly

First off will be a small group (4-6 people) working bee in the nursery, preparing tubes for the pricking out of small seedlings in a bigger working bee.

Meet at the park gate to the nursery (off the The Avenue – see map below) (Melway 2B B3).  BYO water bottle.  Morning tea provided. 

You must notify Kaye if you intend participating – 9329 0635 or koddie@bigpond.com

The Covid risk is still there, so caution and safety procedures will still apply.

At the moment numbers will be restricted to 15

You need to sign the register and check in with QR code (or signing in) required; all participants will need to show proof of their full vaccination.

 Masks should be worn and social distancing will apply

If the limits and requirements change we will advise promptly

POSTPONED NEW DATE TO BE ADVISED

Dear all,

Royal Park Protection Group is holding a GENERAL MEETING with a most interesting speaker and you are invited.

When: SATURDAY JUNE 19^th 2021

Time: 1.45pm for 2pm start

Location: Walmsley House  161 Gatehouse Street Parkville

Come and learn about Microbats

This meeting was initially planned for 2020 but Covid intervened

Our Guest Speaker is Dr Lindy Lumsden  

Principal Research Scientist, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning 

Her Topic: Microbats

Bats play an important role in controlling insect numbers, including a range of pest species, by eating up to half their body weight in insects in a night.  However, due to their small size, nocturnal behaviour and cryptic roosting habits, these valuable native mammals are rarely seen and are often portrayed negatively in the media. 

Lindy is passionate about trying to reverse these negative perceptions and conducts a wide range of extension activities to educate and enthuse people about the bats.  In her talks she describes fascinating and little known aspects of the natural history of these nocturnal creatures. As most people do not have the opportunity to see bats close up, she brings along a live bat to show at the end of her talk. 

Lindy is based at the Arthur Rylah Institute, the wildlife research institute of the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, where she has been conducting ecological research on bats for over 35 years.  Although based in Victoria, her research has also taken her to remote areas of Australia, and to many countries overseas.