Future Melbourne: plan for rail yards near Etihad Stadium to be covered over with sports ovals

UGLY rail yards next to Etihad Stadium would be covered over with sporting ovals under a bold plan to provide a new park in the inner city.

UGLY rail yards next to Etihad Stadium would be covered over with sporting ovals under a bold plan to provide a new park in the inner city.

The proposal, from Melbourne City Council, would ensure better access to the stadium and much needed open public space.

Acting Lord Mayor Arron Wood has discussed the plan with the state government and the AFL as part of a broader vision to redevelop the area.

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It would involve building a lightweight deck over the rail lines near Southern Cross station that would be funded by adjacent low-rise office developments.

Ugly rail yards next to Etihad Stadium would be covered over with sporting ovals under a bold plan to provide a new park in the inner city. Photo: Visit Victoria

“Imagine as you walk over to Etihad Stadium that in the foreground you have four or five community AFL-sized ovals decked over the top of the rail yards,” Cr Wood said.

“That could be something uniquely Melbourne.”

Cr Wood said a roof over the rail lines would deliver several great outcomes.

“Sport, open space, new event space connecting the CBD with Docklands by covering the ugly rail yards, cooling the city and really adding an impressive lead-up to better showcase the revamped Etihad Stadium,” he said.

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Acting Sport Minister Ben Carroll said the government would look at the proposal.

“We’ve got to make sure it’s merit based and it stacks up both financially and increases participation,” he said.

“We’re making massive investments in the CBD and surrounds - we’ve partnered with the North Melbourne Football Club with the Arden St redevelopment, we’re working very closely with St Kilda on their Moorabin redevelopment and we’ve also just seen an upgrade of the Junction Oval.

“We’ll continue to work with the City of Melbourne as they’ve been a great partner of ours in returning the suburban AFL grounds to the community.”

But opposition leader Matthew Guy dismissed the proposal as a waste of money.

“Our priority as a state should be helping suburban and regional clubs, not coming up with grand ideas in downtown Melbourne,” he said.

“That precinct makes a lot of money ... the State Government acting as a bank (to) provide hundreds of millions of dollars for these proposals, is not the right priority.”

The front of Etihad Stadium.

Former amateur footballer Vicki Bryce said the ovals plan was a great idea as women’s teams often struggled to find ovals in the pre-season.

“Especially when you want Melbourne to be a city of wellbeing you need to have all the proper facilities,” she said.

Cr Wood has raised the idea with the state government and the AFL, which are in talks on the league’s $300 million plan to redevelop the stadium and surrounding area.

AFL general manager of corporate, finance and major projects, Ray Gunston, said the possibilities were exciting.

“The opportunity to have development around it to open it up into the precinct is a catalyst for greater utilisation of both the precinct and the stadium,” he said. “We’re certainly interested in working through all those and they’re discussions we’ve been having over the last few months.”

The result of those negotiations will influence the council’s blueprint for upgrading Harbour Esplanade, which is seen as crucial to better integrating Docklands with the CBD.

The AFL envisages opening the stadium out to the waterfront with open-air bars and restaurants, as well as a 1500-seat ballroom that could host events such as the Brownlow Medal count.

Cr Wood said that for too long Melbourne had turned its back on waterways.

“Now that the Etihad Stadium redevelopment seems to be kicking off, the Harbour Esplanade masterplan can be implemented and we can go boots and all into the project,’ he said.

“I’d like to see a vibrant ferry terminal, more activation of the waterfront and more open space and a better link between New Quay and Victoria Harbour.”

“These are all things that the Docklands community have asked for and have been eagerly awaiting.”

An Andrews Government spokeswoman said a ministerial working group had been set up to consider plans for sporting areas.

“We are looking at the stadiums we have now and what we need tomorrow to keep attracting the biggest and best events to Victoria,” she said. “We’re always interested in new ideas to ensure Victoria remains the sporting and events capital of Australia, and Melbourne the most liveable city in the world.”

Property Council state deputy executive director Matthew Kandelaars said: “We welcome in principle any ideas that will bring investment to Melbourne and activate under-utilised space, attract people and build connectivity.”

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