Construction has officially begun on the brand-new Otter Street pocket park in Collingwood.

Minister for Environment, the Hon Ingrid Stitt MLC, joined Yarra City Council Mayor, Claudia Nguyen, and fellow Yarra City Councillors to officially mark the beginning of works at the Otter Street pocket park with a ‘turning of the sod’ ceremony. 

The $1.88 million investment for Collingwood features an accessible space with extensive park seating, curved terraced lawns shaded by native trees, generous paths, and an upgraded toilet facility.

Yarra City Council Mayor Claudia Nguyen expressed her delight at the commencement of this exciting project:

“One of the initiatives from our 2021-2025 Council Plan is to deliver high quality, green open spaces across our municipality.”

“Collingwood has just a mere 0.3 percent of open space. This project will provide a wonderful new and accessible place for the community to gather and connect.”

Interdisciplinary First Nations artist, Reko Rennie will also have his artwork integrated into the park's landscape design to remind everyone about the area’s rich Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander identity. 

Otter Street pocket park is being delivered by Yarra City Council in partnership with the Victorian Government, who have supported the project with $1.19m funding. Yarra City Council has invested a further $694,000 towards the project.

The park is scheduled to be finished by late 2023.