Melbourne University building campus in Fishermans Bend
A TRAM line to Fishermans Bend is looking more likely after plans were announced to build a university campus in the industrial suburb.
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A TRAM line to Fishermans Bend is looking more likely after plans were announced to build a university campus in the industrial suburb.
Melbourne University splashed $49.8 million on seven hectares of the government-owned land — on the former Holden site — to build a new engineering campus.
Treasure Tim Pallas said “the state will deliver light rail access to the area” but he would not confirm when.
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The campus is due to open in the early 2020s but bus is the only current public transport from the city to the area.
The thousand postgraduate students who will study at the campus when it first opens may also be forced to catch a university-run shuttle to class.
The state government has previously canvased plans to add a tram line across the Yarra River to Fishermans Bend but a route has not been confirmed.
“There is a commitment from the state to look to develop light rail connections,” Mr Pallas said.
“We do recognise that this is an important facility and one that deserves the support and the investment of the state.
“We will deliver it.”
A train station could also be considered as a long-term project or future phases of the Melbourne Metro tunnel.
“I would anticipate that, at some point, there would be an underground station in and around this vicinity,” Mr Pallas said.
Melbourne University will spend close to $1 billion on developing the new world-class engineering school, which includes upgrades to its Parkville campus and redevelopment of the former Royal Women’s Hospital.
It will dedicated about $22 million to construction of the Fishermans Bend campus, to begin early next year, before spending $90-$100 million each year over a 10-year plan.
Researchers and postgraduate students will predominantly use the new campus, with undergraduate engineering courses still on offer in Parkville.
University vice-chancellor Glyn Davis said the Parkville campus could not cater for all research, with some equipment shorting power to the surrounding area if turned on before 5pm.
“It means we can do a lot more researcher here and a lot more students can be involved in practical projects because we will have the space and the energy to do it,” he said.
“That is the huge advantage.
“Around us in this precinct will be some of the nation’s and the world’s best technology companies and they will be natural partners for our students and researchers.”
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