By Cara Waters and Sophie Aubrey
An underground network for moving goods and waste on conveyor belts, transforming empty shops into free spaces for artists and a car-free Hoddle Grid are among the 50 big ideas to emerge from a major summit discussing what Melbourne might look like in 2050.
Business and community leaders – including Governor Margaret Gardner, Lucas Group Restaurants owner Chris Lucas, comedy festival director Susan Provan, and Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre chief Natalie O’Brien – were among about 700 people who converged on Melbourne Town Hall on Friday for the M2050 forum.
Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece at the Melbourne 2050 summit on Friday. Credit: Penny Stephens
Lord Mayor Nick Reece said he wanted to focus on Melbourne in 25 years’ time, as great cities were not built overnight, they were built over generations.
“In Melbourne, we find ourselves at a historic juncture,” he said. “A few years back, we had a once-in-a-century crisis, but we are a city that does come back well. In fact, I think we do that better than any city in the world.”
The event, run by City of Melbourne, began with speeches from Premier Jacinta Allan and Opposition Leader Brad Battin, who went back-to-back with pointed early election pitches.
Participants young and old shared their ideas in break-out groups focusing on topics including infrastructure, culture, climate, the economy and liveability.
After a full day of robust discussions – as well as some disagreement and confusion – a list of 50 big ideas for 2050 was compiled for the City of Melbourne to take on or advocate for.
Participants were eager to see a ban on private cars in the CBD, excluding emergency, delivery and disability transport vehicles.
They also proposed prioritising the city’s walkability by ripping up car parks to make way for wider footpaths and green corridors, building tree-lined sky bridges between skyscrapers and developing safer, gap-free bike lanes.
Cutting the need for trucks in the Hoddle Grid could be addressed by drone deliveries or repurposing and upgrading Melbourne’s historic underground tunnels for moving goods and waste via a network of conveyor belts, some suggested.
Also among the big ideas as fast water buses on the Yarra River, a more seamless and accessible public transport system to allow Melburnians to get “anywhere at any time”, and a single pass for use on trams, trains, buses, e-bikes and share-cars.
As the city moves more towards being a hub for recreation than simply a business district, attendees want to see underused office buildings converted into schools and aged care facilities. Housing and green space over the top of unsightly rail corridors, such as at Jolimont, was also suggested.
Councillor Gladys Liu (centre) and others at the M2050 Summit at the Melbourne Town Hall.Credit: Penny Stephens
Participants called for every Victorian child to get a culture pass providing free access to arts venues, an emphasis on a 24-hour city with art after dark and libraries open at night.
Other ideas included making the Yarra River swimmable, expanding the democratic franchise to include young people and international students and having a concierge on every corner to help people discover the city.
At the opening of the summit, Battin used his address to call for more police resourcing to support a safer city.
“The most important thing we need to change to ensure Melbourne will get back to what it was, is we need to ensure that Melbourne is seen as a safe place to live, work and run your business.”
He was critical of the City of Melbourne’s controversial security guard scheme, calling instead for more police and a return to move-on laws.
Reece later told reporters: “We obviously have a different opinion.”
Allan took a leaf out of federal Labor’s book when she took the stage by giving an acknowledgment of Country and referring to conservative, Trump-style tactics multiple times.
The premier announced she would embark on a trade mission to China later this year, and emphasised her support of skilled migrants and international students.
She criticised the federal Liberal Party’s campaign focus on “cutting immigration to the bone and sending international students home and preferencing One Nation first instead of last”.
When asked whether she supported the City of Melbourne’s security guard scheme, Allan said she shared “a big passion” for Melbourne and Victoria with Reece “and part of that is our understanding of the need to support our community to both feel safe and be safe”.
“That’s why the recent work by acting Chief Commissioner Rick Nugent to bring more police into the CBD in particular key locations is one that I support,” she said.
Closing the day, Reece said the summit had been “an exhausting but uplifting and inspiring experience”.
“We have renewed the promise of Melbourne, a city where everyone can live their absolute best life.”
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