An open letter to the City of Yarra:
For years, our beloved wide green median strips on Canning, Rathdowne and Drummond Streets have been an iconic spot for a lazy afternoon picnic and bevvy with friends.
They are effectively Carlton North’s shared backyard - especially for the many people living in apartments without outdoor green space to enjoy a drink.
However, a recent decision from the City of Yarra now means that locals will no longer be able to enjoy a drink on the iconic median strips, with the green spaces officially be classified as part of the road where drinking alcohol is banned.
That’s why we’re calling on the City of Yarra to reverse the decision that has stopped people enjoying a drink on Carlton North’s much-loved grassy median strips along Canning, Rathdowne and Drummond Streets.
There is something uniquely Melbourne about grabbing some food, a bottle of wine and sitting outside with your mates on a warm evening. That shouldn’t disappear because these green spaces have been re-classified by the fun police as part of the road.
These strips are not just pieces of road infrastructure. They are part of the life of our neighbourhood.
Of course everyone who uses the strips has a responsibility to respect nearby residents. But the answer isn’t to punish everyone who uses these spaces responsibly.
We’re asking the City of Yarra to:
- Recognise these strips for what they are - important community green spaces, just like our parks.
- Develop a shared approach to caring for the strips that protects neighbourhood amenity while keeping them open and accessible.
- Listen to the broader community before making future decisions about how these spaces can be used.
At a time when more people are living in apartments and homes without big backyards, we should be finding more ways for people to enjoy shared green space - not sending in the fun police because someone brought a bottle of rosé.