By Matthew Sims
Footscray Park’s Western Lawn will soon receive upgrades, with the area set to be closed off to visitors during works.
The multi-million dollar upgrade is slated to begin in December, which will reconstruct and reinstate the Western Lawn in line with the Footscray Park Masterplan.
The upgrade works will involve removing the existing top soil and installing a drainage layer, followed by irrigation and clean fill, as the turf has become increasingly degraded due to the saline soils, poor drainage and high levels of use, with the current slow recovering winter grass also contributing to the Western Lawn’s condition.
The Footscray Park Masterplan supports an increase in a range of cultural, recreational and sporting opportunities, to attract a wider audience to value and appreciate the Park.
Maribyrnong mayor Anthony Tran said Footscray Park is a “much-loved and utilised open space” in the area.
“It is a favoured destination for recreation and enjoyment for both residents and visitors,” he said.
“The upcoming reconstruction and reinstatement of the Western Lawn will ensure it continues to support a range of community activities, including casual use, dog walking, festivals and events, and formal and informal community sport for many more years to come,” he said.
“We are pleased to be able to accelerate the program to deliver the upgrade a year ahead of the original program.”
Brought forward from the 2023-24 capital works program, the works will likely be completed in April 2023.
During these works, the Western Lawn will be closed and all users will be directed to other areas of Footscray Park.
This year’s New Year’s Eve fireworks event will be hosted on the Eastern Lawn.
The masterplan supports both passive and active recreation opportunities to service the Footscray community, including providing overflow for formal and casual sporting uses of the traditional playing fields at Henry Turner South and maintaining the area as a dog off-lead space.
