Southbank green plans: $35m vision for boulevard
A $35 million blueprint has been unveiled to create open space in Southbank, including plans for tram tracks running over grass.
Future Victoria
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A $35 million blueprint has been unveiled to create open space in Southbank, including plans for tram tracks running over grass.
The 2.5ha space along Southbank Boulevard links the Domain Parklands with the Yarra River through the city’s most densely populated suburb. The concept is part of the city council’s push to turn “grey to green”. Three stages of construction would be completed by 2020.
Lord Mayor Robert Doyle will formally unveil the plans today at the 2017 Ecocity World Summit being held in Melbourne.
“In Melbourne and in other cities around the world, governments are looking to turn under-utilised roads and carparks into important green space,” Cr Doyle said.
The proposed changes would improve life for Southbank’s 20,000 residents and 50,000 office workers, he said.
“The new public space planned for the front of the ABC alone would be roughly the same size as the City Square.’’
Dodds St, near the Victoria College of the Arts, would become a public space for street performances, markets and medium-scale music festivals.
The plan includes 1km of bike lanes, which would aim to relieve congestion on the Southbank waterfront.
Tram and bus stops would also be upgraded, and “green’’ tram tracks would be installed.
The greenery could be grass or ground covers such as succulents. Box Hill is the only other location in Melbourne to have green tram tracks.
The road would be reconfigured to accommodate current traffic volumes, moving the current green median strip to the ABC side of the street.
It currently carries 13,000 cars a day.
The proposal has been designed to provide space and greenery for the suburb’s apartment residents, including those living in Melbourne’s tallest building, the 100-storey Australia 108. Families will start moving into A108 by mid-late year.
Three stops for the No. 1 tram will be consolidated into one at the Sturt St/Southbank Boulevard junction.
Council environment chairwoman Cathy Oke said the project was part of an urban design program that has transformed more than 80 hectares of underused asphalt and other infrastructure into public open space over 30 years.
“Converting grey to green supports the City of Melbourne’s strategies for managing the urban forest, climate change, water, biodiversity and wellbeing,” Cr Oke said.
The population of Southbank is predicted to rise by 175 per cent by 2032.
The proposal comes after the council endorsed its masterplan for City Rd, Southbank. Councillors will consider the Southbank Boulevard plan at a meeting next Tuesday.
ian.royall@news.com.au
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