Matt Johnston: The Metro Tunnel has the potential to bring new life to the city – if the Allan government capitalises on it

The Allan government is hailing the Metro Tunnel’s Town Hall Station as a “new heart” of the city. It could become just that, if the government is able to capture and realise its potential.

Town Hall Station and its main entrance at City Square are triumphantly described by the Allan government as a “new heart” of the CBD.

Running with that metaphor, the new array of underground access points and interchange passageways would be like new arteries, pumping more blood around the city.

Those arteries stretch from City Square at Collins Street through to other station entrances at Flinders St Station, at Federation Square, and at a new Town Hall Place next to the Young and Jackson pub.

Town Hall station is being hailed by the Allan government as the new heart of the city. Picture: Ian Currie

The station is set to open in December. Picture: Ian Currie

A revamped Campbell Arcade, which runs under Degraves St, is another link through to Flinders St Station, which is about 300m from City Square.

Despite the Government’s polycentric dreams, Melbourne’s CBD will always be the city’s most important organ due to its design and key landmarks.

But its pulse slowed when Covid-19 swept the globe and strict lockdowns were enforced.

Traders and CBD workers will be hoping the new infrastructure will make it easier for people to get to them, and that attractive new commercial projects can use the leverage of shiny new stations and a better mass transit system.

Town Hall Station will have nine retail and hospitality spaces; four under City Square and five at Town Hall Place – a new landmark set to be developed in coming months that will soar 10 storeys above Swanston St.

Town Hall station will have nine retail and hospitality spaces. Picture : Ian Currie

The Metro Tunnel has the potential to deliver extra benefits to the CBD – if they can be captured and realised. Picture: Ian Currie

The Metro Tunnel was built to augment the rail network, enabling more services to be added thanks to an alternative to the City Loop being built.

But extra benefits to the CBD, if they can be captured and realised, could get pulses racing.

Especially once the new Melbourne Arts Precinct is built later this decade, creating the country’s largest contemporary gallery within a short walk.

Imagine the stalled Melbourne Airport Rail Line was finally hauled back on track, given it was designed to use the Metro Tunnel to deliver passengers straight into the city’s beating heart.

Ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum.