Inside plan for City Harbour public spaces at Docklands

Tree-lined boulevards, lush communal public spaces and an aptly named Central Park are at the centre of a master plan for Docklands’ future.

The project marks the revamp of the Docklands area. Picture: Supplied

A “Central Park”, tree lined boulevard and communal public spaces would be built alongside office, retail and residential towers under a new master plan for Docklands.

The state government is considering a new development blueprint that would add much needed green space and pedestrian zones to the maligned waterfront suburb.

Plans for “City Harbour’’ include construction of four major buildings between 60m and 100m high “at the front door of Melbourne’’.

Two new parks, a new Melbourne laneway, extension of a key road to better connect the precinct with the city, pedestrian and bike paths have been proposed.

City Harbour development head Guy Taylor said it would be a “gamechanger for the precinct’’, prioritising pedestrians and limiting traffic and public transport gridlock.

The state government is considering a new development blueprint which would add green space to the waterfront suburb. Picture: Supplied

“There is nowhere that is a completely protected green space like what we are offering,’’ he said.

The plans, obtained by the Herald Sun, seek significant changes to a permit approved for the north east corner of Docklands in 2011, under the previous name “Digital Harbour’’.

The amended plans increase public open space by almost 10 per cent, reduce previously proposed roads by almost half and cut car parks by about 40 per cent, to about 960.

Mr Taylor said it would open “central green’’ space for future developments in nearby Arden and E-Gate as well as Southern Cross Station, Marvel Stadium.

“We are really now seeing ourselves as a precinct that has buildings within a park, more than anything,’’ he said.

“We’re trying to open up that key link as well along the promenade.

“If you think about it, there are not many places where you can come straight off the water and go and sit in a park.’’

Cafes, restaurants, shops, a supermarket, gym, food truck precinct and child care centre are planned for the precinct “embracing the waterfront”.

Central Park would be an “active centre”, connecting Digital Drive and Harbour Esplanade

“The staged development of City Harbour will see this strategic site transformed into an integrated precinct that introduces much needed open green space and amenity,’’ the report said.

Central Park would be “an active centre”, with a “contemporary garden’’, large trees and paved paths connecting Harbour Esplanade and Digital Drive.

“Northern Grounds”, another public park, would be a “relaxing space perched high above Dudley St’’ with a public lift on Harbour Esplanade to the upper terrace.

Digital Drive would be extended to the northern park, lined with trees and public space.

“Inhibited terraces’’ with lawn, seats and landscaping would open to the public from a secondary Harbour Esplanade entry.

And an “urban retail activated laneway’’ would connect North Grounds and Central Park.

“City Harbour will be a highly accessible and pedestrian friendly hub that incorporates green space and public realm seamlessly,’’ the plans said.

“Bordering the waterfront, surrounding businesses and community activity, the precinct will permeate into Docklands surrounds … with priority for walking and active connections.’’

Mr Taylor said “fundamental changes’’ were made to original plans due to a post-COVID shift in market demand from residential to commercial.

A tower likely to house a hotel or residential building has been proposed at 240 Harbour Esplanade, as well as a development at 220-230 Harbour Esplanade, to form one or two dwellings.

A medium height development at 50 Digital Drive would be elevated from Wurundjeri Way

and Dudley St.

And a commercial building at 30-40 Digital Drive would boast uninterrupted views of the city and harbour.

The precinct abuts Harbour Esplanade, Footscray Rd and Dudley Streets, with the southern perimeter fronting La Trobe St.

[e-mail]

@rolfep