The City of Melbourne has endorsed a 20-year master plan for Royal Park that aims to expand parkland, restore native habitat and improve access while giving greater recognition to the site’s Aboriginal heritage.
The Murrup Biik Royal Park Master Plan was endorsed at the latest Future Melbourne Committee meeting after three years of community engagement and expert review. The plan sets out a long-term approach for Melbourne’s largest park as visitor numbers are expected to rise over the next two decades.
Royal Park currently attracts more than 40,000 visitors each day. The City of Melbourne expects that figure to reach about 55,000 by 2046, increasing pressure on recreational areas while creating a need for additional open space and infrastructure.
Under the plan, more than 40,000 square metres of additional parkland could be created. The proposal would move Royal Park closer to its original footprint recorded in the 1840s, while providing more space for recreation, wildlife and community activities.
The master plan also places a strong focus on biodiversity. Proposed changes include expanding native habitat and strengthening ecological connections across the park. The City of Melbourne says the work could create conditions for hundreds of native species to return, while helping protect around 1,000 existing plant and animal species, including 29 threatened species.
A new lighting framework is proposed as part of the plan, with the aim of improving safety without placing unnecessary pressure on wildlife or the night environment. Council will seek Urban Night Sky Place designation for Royal Park, which would make it the first site in Victoria to receive the designation if successful.
Movement through the park is another focus. The plan proposes exploring ways for people and wildlife to move more easily between different parts of Royal Park, including improvements to walking and cycling connections.
Existing sporting areas would also be reviewed to make better use of available space. The plan seeks to accommodate organised sport while allowing the fields to support other recreational activities.
Water is included in the proposed changes, with new water bodies and additional water sources being considered to provide cooling and create habitat for plants and animals.
The plan also calls for greater recognition of Royal Park’s enduring connection to Aboriginal culture. One recommendation is to consider renaming the park using a Woi-wurrung name, reflecting the area’s cultural history and connection to Traditional Owners.
Royal Park has previously been shaped by master plans adopted in 1984 and 1997. Those plans sought to establish a native Australian character within a major urban park, an approach that the new master plan aims to build on while responding to Melbourne’s changing population and environmental needs.
Lord Mayor Nick Reece said the plan would help protect Royal Park as Melbourne continues to grow.
“Royal Park is Melbourne’s largest park and a defining part of our Garden City. As our city grows, so does the need to protect and improve this vital green space,” he said.
Environment portfolio head Councillor Davydd Griffiths said planning would be important to protect the park’s plant and animal life while accommodating different community uses.
“Royal Park is home to around 1,000 species of plants and animals, including 29 threatened species, and it’s crucial we plan now to protect them for the future,” he said.
The master plan will guide decisions about Royal Park over the next 20 years rather than delivering all of the proposed changes at once. The council says the vision will continue to evolve as projects are developed and community feedback is considered.
The plan’s implementation will therefore depend on future decisions, funding and detailed project planning. Its proposals provide a framework for how the park could change while attempting to balance recreation, accessibility, cultural recognition and environmental protection.
For a park already used by tens of thousands of people each day, the challenge will be ensuring that additional facilities and access do not come at the expense of the habitat the plan seeks to protect.
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