Lord mayoral candidate Sally Capp proposes Melbourne version of New York’s High Line park

FEDERATION Square and Southern Cross Station would be linked by a 2.5km sky trail under a lord mayoral candidate’s bold vision. But how will it be funded?

MELBOURNE would get elevated parkland and new cycle and walking paths under a $300 million-plus plan to create more open space in the CBD.

Based on New York’s High Line park, Federation Square and Southern Cross Station would be linked by a 2.5km “sky” trail that would involve covering a big section of rail lines.

Lord mayoral candidate Sally Capp has proposed the ambitious idea to add over 10ha of new public open space, including 6ha of parkland.

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Springtime at the High Line park in New York City. Picture: iStock

“This is a big vision for a project that, if realised, would transform Melbourne’s CBD and green a vital part of the Yarra and to become an iconic attraction for visitors,” she said.

However, the idea was slammed by Lord Mayor candidate Jennifer Yang.

“Sally Capp’s billion-dollar thought bubble will do nothing to address the homelessness crisis or fix the toxic culture at Town Hall,” Ms Yang said.

“Ms Capp should spend less time focusing on grabbing a headline, and instead support my idea of building Father Bob’s Refuge for Women and Children in Little Bourke Street.”

“There is a real choice to be made in this election: housing for the homeless, or pricey parks.”

Under the bold High Line plan, huge decks would be installed for parks above the railyards next to Federation Square, at Flinders St Station and above the railyards in front of Etihad Stadium.

Bike and walking infrastructure would connect the decks, thereby joining up the “missing link” in the Capital City Trail.

Lord mayoral candidate Sally Capp. Picture: Jason Edwards

Ms Capp said this would solve the problem of cyclists being forced to use Southbank Promenade on the other side of the river to get through the CBD.

“This creates a dangerous situation with bikes and pedestrians mingling in a very crowded area,” she said.

“The Melbourne Highline vision would move bikes away from this promenade and on to dedicated pathways running over the top of the rail lines.”

A map of the proposed plan.

Ms Capp said the project could cost at least $300 million, and could be funded by the City of Melbourne together with state and federal governments and community input.

A previous idea by the Melbourne Veloway group to build an elevated bikeway from Princes Bridge to Southern Cross Station using the rail viaduct was costed at about $25 million in 2014.

Ms Capp said her vision was a massive undertaking that would take years to complete, but “if elected I will make the realisation of this vision one of my key priorities”.

New York’s High Line park runs for 2.3km along a disused rail viaduct.

Ms Capp, who is considered a frontrunner for the May 11 by-election, said a congestion tax for the inner city beyond the current parking space charge should be considered.

“We already have a congestion tax and it hasn’t made a material difference to date, so we need to look at other options,” she told 3AW this morning.

“The important thing about that is that if we try to deter our cars coming in, what is the alternative to welcome people into the city.

“What we don’t want to do is discourage people coming in.”

Asked if Melbourne was growing too quickly, Ms Capp said: “I’m of the camp that it’s not...we’ve got the expertise to be able to manage it.”

“The massive growth has created traffic problems that we hadn’t anticipated,” she said.

“But apparently...we could make some signalling changes for example, in terms of how the traffic lights work that could make a difference.”

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