THURSDAY, MAY 15, 1980
WOODED PARK PLANNED FOR VICTORIA BARRACKS SITE
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A MAJOR PORTION OF THE VICTORIA BARRACKS SITE WILL BE TURNED INTO A LARGE WOODED PARK INCORPORATING FACILITIES FOR BOTH RECREATIONAL AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES, IF A CONSULTANTS' REPORT PUBLISHED TODAY IS ACCEPTED BY THE GOVERNMENT.
THE CONSULTANTS WERE COMMISSIONED BY THE GOVERNMENT LAST YEAR TO STUDY THE BEST USE OF THE AREA RESERVED FOR PUBLIC OPEN SPACE WHICH COVERS ABOUT TEN HECTARES OF LAND STRETCHING FROM THE EASTERN TO WESTERN ENDS OF THE SITE.
COMMENTING ON THE REPORT, MR GRAHAM BARNES, DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, SAID THE URBAN COUNCIL WOULD BE INVITED TO SAY WHETHER IT WAS PREPARED TO DEVELOP AND MANAGE THE PARK ALONG THE LINES OF THE CONSULTANTS' PROPOSALS.
+COPIES OF THE REPORT HAVE BEEN SENT TO THE COUNCIL FOR ITS COMMENTS AND CONSULTATIONS ON THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT WILL BE HELD WITH THE COUNCIL BEFORE A FINAL PLAN IS DRAWN UP, HE ADDED.
AS THE LARGEST WOODED AREA IN CENTRAL, THE VICTORIA BARRACKS SITE HAS AN OUTSTANDING LANDSCAPE WHICH FORMS A GREEN WEDGE IN THE MIDST OF A CLOSELY BUILT-UP AREA.
THE CONSULTANTS' REPORT PROPOSES A BALANCED DEVELOPMENT OF THE PARK BY COMBINING ITS NATURAL LANDSCAPE AND HISTORIC QUALITIES WITH THE CREATION OF NEW FACILITIES AND OPEN SPACE FOR MORE INTENSIVE PUBLIC USE.
A MAJOR GOAL OF SITE PLANNING HAS BEEN TO CREATE A VARIED SEQUENCE OF OUTDOOR SPACES PROVIDING INTEREST FOR PEDESTRIANS AS THEY WALK THROUGH THE PARK.
A CENTRAL GARDEN IS PROPOSED FOR THE RELATIVELY LEVEL GROUNDS OF FLAGSTAFF HOUSE WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BE THE MOST HEAVILY USED SECTION OF THE SITE, LARGELY BECAUSE OF ITS PROXIMITY TO CENTRAL.
THE GROUNDS ARE ALREADY SURROUNDED BY FINE TREE SPECIMENS AND GRASSLAND AND CONTAIN A LAWN SCATTERED WITH TALL PALMS.
IN ORDER TO CATER FOR THE HIGH INTENSITY OF USE, IT IS PROPOSED THAT CAREFULLY DESIGNED PAVING, FOUNTAINS, PONDS, TERRACED GARDENS AND SITTING-OUT AREAS BE PROVIDED IN THIS AREA. THE GARDEN SETTING IS ALSO CONSIDERED SUITABLE FOR THE DISPLAY OF FLAMINGOES.
THE LARGEST AREAS OF WOODLAND IN VICTORIA BARRACKS ARE ON THE STEEP SLOPES BELOW KENNEDY ROAD TO THE EAST OF THE SITE.
BECAUSE OF THE DIVERSITY OF PLANT LIFE PRESENT, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THESE AREAS BE PRESERVED AS A BOTANIC RESERVE. THE EXISTENCE OF MAJOR DRAINAGE CHANNELS THERE ALSO ALLOWS FOR THE CREATION OF ORNAMENTAL PONDS AND WATERFALLS,
THE MAJOR GRASSED VALLEY OF THE BARRACKS SITE LIES TO THE WEST, BETWEEN ALEXANDER AND BIRDWOOD BLOCKS.
THIS GENTLY