Fishermans Bend could fail due to a lack of public transport options

FISHERMANS Bend’s viabi­lity as a future mecca for office workers has been questioned due to the lack of a proper transport plan for the precinct.

FISHERMANS Bend’s viabi­lity as a future mecca for office workers has been questioned due to the lack of a proper transport plan for the precinct.

Governments have considered a tram link across the Yarra from the Docklands and a Metro Rail station, but nothing has yet been committed to.

Figures show Melbourne has the equal-lowest vacancy rate among Australia’s CBDs, but commercial real estate firm JLL Australia research head Annabel McFarlane said Fishermans Bend was unlikely to fix that issue first.

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Fishermans Bend is earmarked for an office development. Pictures: Tim Carrafa

“What do we need for a great office precinct? — we need amenity, we need transport,” she told a Property Council event.

Ms McFarlane said the Arden precinct at North Melbourne was more likely to take off due to the Metro station.

Property services outfit Charter Keck Cramer comm­ercial researcher Glenn Lampard said gov­ernments strug­gled to have an impact in an area like Fishermans Bend that was 90 per cent privately owned. “It really needs to be managing the transport ... to come first,” he said.

“And unless there is a promise or funding in a Budget for a tram line or a train line, I don’t think the property industry is going to be terribly interested.”

The five precincts of Fishermans Bend. Picture: Supplied

Property Council state executive director Sally Capp said ade­quate public transport was crucial in attracting capital.

“Just as important is making sure the right long-term gov­er­nance model is in place to (att­ract) investors, developers and the community,” she said.

The former Coalition government pledged a train station in its Metro plan, but Labor chose a different route.

“How can you produce a high-density precinct and exp­ect people to get there by horse and cart?” Opposition transp­ort spokesman David Davis said.

Trams have been considered for Fishermans Bend. Picture: City of Port Phillip — Aspect Digital.

But Planning Minister Ric­h­ard Wynne said he was fixing the mess “the Liberals left behind”.

“(We) will create the jobs, schools, public transport connections, housing and business opportunities the community needs,” he said.

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