Trees cut down in Albert Park to make way for $350m pit lane upgrade
Workers used heavy machinery to fell several trees around the park's permanent pit lane building on Tuesday as part of a major redevelopment of the street circuit's garages and hospitality zone.
The new facilities are being built after the Labor government renegotiated its contract with Formula 1 owners Liberty Media in 2023 to ensure the event stays in Melbourne until 2037.
As part of the new deal, the state government agreed to upgrade the pit lane garages, race control and media centre, as well as the Paddock Club hospitality area. It is expected to be open by 2028.
Construction will not begin until after the 2026 F1 race, however early works have started, including the erection of temporary fencing and clearing of trees that are in the path of the new buildings.
Opponents of Formula 1's annual takeover of the park say it is yet another increase to the permanent footprint of an event that was always supposed to be temporary.
'It's just another, further encroachment on a public park, all for an event that's three days every year,' said Geoff Gowers, a committee member of Save Albert Park, which has protested the lakeside grand prix since before its inception in 1996.
'It involves carting in thousands of tons of concrete and steel. And then taking them back out again. So you might well say it's already an environmental disaster, as well as cutting down trees.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Advertiser
3 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Premier stakes leadership on national power cable deal
One of the nation's biggest energy projects has been given the green light, with a Liberal premier fighting to form government staking his leadership on the deal. The multi-billion-dollar Marinus Link cable will boost electricity transmission between Tasmania and Victoria and is seen as pivotal in increasing green energy investment. Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff signed up to the joint Victoria and Commonwealth investment contract on Friday, while in caretaker mode and a day before the deadline. Mr Rockliff has been lashed by Labor, the Greens, as well as several independent crossbenchers whose support he needs to form government, over a "sham" process. He says Marinus Link will deliver 2000 jobs and $400 million per year in extra revenue to Tasmania and that power prices will be lower than without the cable. Craig Garland, one of four independents on the cross bench, has said he won't be able to support a Liberal government over their "secret" rushed decision. It leaves the Liberals, who have 14 seats ahead of Labor's 10, with one less cross bench option to sure-up the required 18 parliamentary votes needed to govern. Non-Liberal MPs were given a confidential briefing on the project on Tuesday, while the whole-of-state business case wasn't released before the deal was signed. "If I fall because of this project ... I will know in my heart of hearts I have done the right thing by Tasmania and Tasmanians," Mr Rockliff told reporters. "This is not about me, this is not about Craig (Garland). This is about the young people in Tasmania and their kids and their grandkids. "Staking my leadership is what I do." Independents Kristie Johnston and Peter George were also critical of the process, with the latter saying Mr Rockliff was undermining the prospect of a full-term, well-run minority government. Mr Rockliff said the "deal of the century" had capped Tasmania's equity share at $103.5 million - 4.27 per cent of the project's cost. However, the business case forecasts an increase in state net debt to $19 billion in 2031/32 as a result of the project, which includes a power station redevelopment and land-based transmission line. Tasmania's major industrial customers also face "very large" increases in transmission prices, compared to a no-Marinus-Link scenario. Construction of stage one, a 750-megawatt undersea cable, is expected to start in 2026 and finish in 2030. Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen said the project was a cornerstone of his government's commitment to reducing emissions and creating jobs in regional communities. Supporters of Marinus Link are confident the cable will lead to greater green energy investment in Tasmania, which can be exported into the national grid. Labor leader Dean Winter supports Marinus Link, but earlier this week said he was unable to back the deal on such short notice. He has given Mr Rockliff "first crack" at forming government but has also reached out to the cross bench, who he is prepared to work with to avoid going back to the polls. Tasmania's snap election on July 19, the second in two years, was called after Mr Rockliff lost a no-confidence motion critical of his budget management and infrastructure delivery. One of the nation's biggest energy projects has been given the green light, with a Liberal premier fighting to form government staking his leadership on the deal. The multi-billion-dollar Marinus Link cable will boost electricity transmission between Tasmania and Victoria and is seen as pivotal in increasing green energy investment. Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff signed up to the joint Victoria and Commonwealth investment contract on Friday, while in caretaker mode and a day before the deadline. Mr Rockliff has been lashed by Labor, the Greens, as well as several independent crossbenchers whose support he needs to form government, over a "sham" process. He says Marinus Link will deliver 2000 jobs and $400 million per year in extra revenue to Tasmania and that power prices will be lower than without the cable. Craig Garland, one of four independents on the cross bench, has said he won't be able to support a Liberal government over their "secret" rushed decision. It leaves the Liberals, who have 14 seats ahead of Labor's 10, with one less cross bench option to sure-up the required 18 parliamentary votes needed to govern. Non-Liberal MPs were given a confidential briefing on the project on Tuesday, while the whole-of-state business case wasn't released before the deal was signed. "If I fall because of this project ... I will know in my heart of hearts I have done the right thing by Tasmania and Tasmanians," Mr Rockliff told reporters. "This is not about me, this is not about Craig (Garland). This is about the young people in Tasmania and their kids and their grandkids. "Staking my leadership is what I do." Independents Kristie Johnston and Peter George were also critical of the process, with the latter saying Mr Rockliff was undermining the prospect of a full-term, well-run minority government. Mr Rockliff said the "deal of the century" had capped Tasmania's equity share at $103.5 million - 4.27 per cent of the project's cost. However, the business case forecasts an increase in state net debt to $19 billion in 2031/32 as a result of the project, which includes a power station redevelopment and land-based transmission line. Tasmania's major industrial customers also face "very large" increases in transmission prices, compared to a no-Marinus-Link scenario. Construction of stage one, a 750-megawatt undersea cable, is expected to start in 2026 and finish in 2030. Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen said the project was a cornerstone of his government's commitment to reducing emissions and creating jobs in regional communities. Supporters of Marinus Link are confident the cable will lead to greater green energy investment in Tasmania, which can be exported into the national grid. Labor leader Dean Winter supports Marinus Link, but earlier this week said he was unable to back the deal on such short notice. He has given Mr Rockliff "first crack" at forming government but has also reached out to the cross bench, who he is prepared to work with to avoid going back to the polls. Tasmania's snap election on July 19, the second in two years, was called after Mr Rockliff lost a no-confidence motion critical of his budget management and infrastructure delivery. One of the nation's biggest energy projects has been given the green light, with a Liberal premier fighting to form government staking his leadership on the deal. The multi-billion-dollar Marinus Link cable will boost electricity transmission between Tasmania and Victoria and is seen as pivotal in increasing green energy investment. Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff signed up to the joint Victoria and Commonwealth investment contract on Friday, while in caretaker mode and a day before the deadline. Mr Rockliff has been lashed by Labor, the Greens, as well as several independent crossbenchers whose support he needs to form government, over a "sham" process. He says Marinus Link will deliver 2000 jobs and $400 million per year in extra revenue to Tasmania and that power prices will be lower than without the cable. Craig Garland, one of four independents on the cross bench, has said he won't be able to support a Liberal government over their "secret" rushed decision. It leaves the Liberals, who have 14 seats ahead of Labor's 10, with one less cross bench option to sure-up the required 18 parliamentary votes needed to govern. Non-Liberal MPs were given a confidential briefing on the project on Tuesday, while the whole-of-state business case wasn't released before the deal was signed. "If I fall because of this project ... I will know in my heart of hearts I have done the right thing by Tasmania and Tasmanians," Mr Rockliff told reporters. "This is not about me, this is not about Craig (Garland). This is about the young people in Tasmania and their kids and their grandkids. "Staking my leadership is what I do." Independents Kristie Johnston and Peter George were also critical of the process, with the latter saying Mr Rockliff was undermining the prospect of a full-term, well-run minority government. Mr Rockliff said the "deal of the century" had capped Tasmania's equity share at $103.5 million - 4.27 per cent of the project's cost. However, the business case forecasts an increase in state net debt to $19 billion in 2031/32 as a result of the project, which includes a power station redevelopment and land-based transmission line. Tasmania's major industrial customers also face "very large" increases in transmission prices, compared to a no-Marinus-Link scenario. Construction of stage one, a 750-megawatt undersea cable, is expected to start in 2026 and finish in 2030. Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen said the project was a cornerstone of his government's commitment to reducing emissions and creating jobs in regional communities. Supporters of Marinus Link are confident the cable will lead to greater green energy investment in Tasmania, which can be exported into the national grid. Labor leader Dean Winter supports Marinus Link, but earlier this week said he was unable to back the deal on such short notice. He has given Mr Rockliff "first crack" at forming government but has also reached out to the cross bench, who he is prepared to work with to avoid going back to the polls. Tasmania's snap election on July 19, the second in two years, was called after Mr Rockliff lost a no-confidence motion critical of his budget management and infrastructure delivery. One of the nation's biggest energy projects has been given the green light, with a Liberal premier fighting to form government staking his leadership on the deal. The multi-billion-dollar Marinus Link cable will boost electricity transmission between Tasmania and Victoria and is seen as pivotal in increasing green energy investment. Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff signed up to the joint Victoria and Commonwealth investment contract on Friday, while in caretaker mode and a day before the deadline. Mr Rockliff has been lashed by Labor, the Greens, as well as several independent crossbenchers whose support he needs to form government, over a "sham" process. He says Marinus Link will deliver 2000 jobs and $400 million per year in extra revenue to Tasmania and that power prices will be lower than without the cable. Craig Garland, one of four independents on the cross bench, has said he won't be able to support a Liberal government over their "secret" rushed decision. It leaves the Liberals, who have 14 seats ahead of Labor's 10, with one less cross bench option to sure-up the required 18 parliamentary votes needed to govern. Non-Liberal MPs were given a confidential briefing on the project on Tuesday, while the whole-of-state business case wasn't released before the deal was signed. "If I fall because of this project ... I will know in my heart of hearts I have done the right thing by Tasmania and Tasmanians," Mr Rockliff told reporters. "This is not about me, this is not about Craig (Garland). This is about the young people in Tasmania and their kids and their grandkids. "Staking my leadership is what I do." Independents Kristie Johnston and Peter George were also critical of the process, with the latter saying Mr Rockliff was undermining the prospect of a full-term, well-run minority government. Mr Rockliff said the "deal of the century" had capped Tasmania's equity share at $103.5 million - 4.27 per cent of the project's cost. However, the business case forecasts an increase in state net debt to $19 billion in 2031/32 as a result of the project, which includes a power station redevelopment and land-based transmission line. Tasmania's major industrial customers also face "very large" increases in transmission prices, compared to a no-Marinus-Link scenario. Construction of stage one, a 750-megawatt undersea cable, is expected to start in 2026 and finish in 2030. Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen said the project was a cornerstone of his government's commitment to reducing emissions and creating jobs in regional communities. Supporters of Marinus Link are confident the cable will lead to greater green energy investment in Tasmania, which can be exported into the national grid. Labor leader Dean Winter supports Marinus Link, but earlier this week said he was unable to back the deal on such short notice. He has given Mr Rockliff "first crack" at forming government but has also reached out to the cross bench, who he is prepared to work with to avoid going back to the polls. Tasmania's snap election on July 19, the second in two years, was called after Mr Rockliff lost a no-confidence motion critical of his budget management and infrastructure delivery.
AU Financial Review
3 hours ago
- AU Financial Review
Labor's home battery subsidy low hanging-fruit in energy transition
Labor's $2.3 billion home battery bonanza is mirroring Australia's love affair with rooftop solar. Under the scheme, households and small businesses are eligible for a 30 per cent discount on the upfront cost of new battery installations. The Albanese government has promised that the subsidy, combined with solar panels, could slash over $2000 from annual energy bills. It's a compelling pitch for households feeling the pinch from relentless power hikes. But Labor would be wise to heed the lessons of the past.
AU Financial Review
3 hours ago
- AU Financial Review
Home battery bonanza to blow through budget forecasts
The Albanese government is set to exhaust the $2.3 billion it has allocated to subsidise the cost of home battery installations well before the planned end of its scheme, new analysis shows, as Australians rush to make the most of the generous program. The huge uptake of Labor's Cheaper Home Batteries scheme since July 1 has smashed expectations, according to consumer comparison site SolarQuotes, in a development that could have broader benefits for Australia's energy transition.
