City of Melbourne pushes Vic government to back $300m Greenline project
The City of Melbourne is coaxing the state government to back it’s $300m Greenline project which could see five inner-city precincts transformed.
Victoria
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An old rail bridge would be turned into a park and an elevated boardwalk built on the river near Flinders St Station under enhanced designs for the $300m Greenline project.
The project was the key piece of Lord Mayor Sally Capp’s 2018 and 2020 election campaigns, and she has previously dubbed it a “passion project”.
New City of Melbourne renders show tree-lined vistas, wetlands and casual meeting places across five precincts of the 4km north bank promenade stretching from Birrarung Marr to Bolte Bridge.
However, the council is still seeking external funding including state government support for the ambitious project that will take years to complete.
New designs by landscape architecture and design outfits T.C.L and Aspect Studios have been inspired by overseas waterfront redevelopments like New York’s Brooklyn Park Bridge, Paris’s Park de Docks and the Seattle and Auckland waterfronts.
Sandridge Bridge, which connects Southbank to the Flinders St Station precinct, currently is a walkway on one half of the bridge.
But a new render shows the other part being opened up and the bridge turned into a linear park with trees, shrubs, seating and open spaces.
“There is an opportunity to create new public realm with improved connections to Flinders St, Southbank and the Greenline project,” says a council report.
The nearby Banana Alley Vaults area would have a tree-lined walkway and plaza while floating wetlands and pontoons would feature in a revitalised water’s edge.
Flinders Walk, which runs from Birrarung Marr to Sandridge Bridge, would be turned into an elevated path giving better views of the river and Southbank.
Arrival site of the first European settlers, Enterprize Park, would be enlarged at the expense of the “S-bend” Queens Bridge St.
“This will allow new space for cultural gatherings, celebration and historical interpretation,” the council said.
Also envisaged is a reconfigured space along the river at the World Trade Centre with new eateries, increased public space at Federation Wharf and a new public park at the end of Victoria Harbour set to become “a key destination at the city’s edge which celebrates the ecology and character of the Yarra River”.
If the designs are endorsed at a council meeting on Tuesday they will go out for public comment via the Participate Melbourne website.
Lord Mayor Sally Capp said Greenline will revitalise the Yarra’s north bank while creating thousands of jobs and attracting new visitors.
“Our landscape architecture and design experts have crafted an incredible vision for what the Greenline project could look like – with stunning boardwalks, event spaces, native vegetation and outdoor dining,” she said.
Greenline got $20m from the 2022-23 council budget and has been promised $20m from the federal government.
From 2022-2026 council has included $140m Greenline funding, including $70m committed by the city, but needs to raise more to mee the $300m total cost.
Asked if the upcoming state budget had funding for Greenline, a government spokesman said:
“Just as all Victorians are facing cost of living challenges with rising interest rates and inflation, the Victorian budget will also take into account current economic conditions.”
“The budget will deliver on our election commitments as we continue our strong economic recovery.”
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