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.'
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