Melbourne City Council propose new bridge on Yarra River

A new pedestrian bridge linking parks on both sides of the Yarra River has been proposed by Melbourne City Council. If the project goes ahead it eventually form a “green” trail linking the Royal Botanic Gardens with Marvel Stadium.

A new pedestrian and cyclist bridge linking parks on both sides of the Yarra River has been proposed in a Melbourne City Council plan.

If the project went ahead, it could eventually be part of a “green” trail linking the Royal Botanic Gardens with Marvel Stadium.

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The council’s new Domain Parklands Master Plan said the proposal could align with anticipated state government development of the Yarra’s north bank.

“The location, purpose and need for a pedestrian and bicycle bridge across the Birrarung (Yarra) should be further explored, and if supported to be funded by the Victorian Government,” the strategy said.

While the precise location of a new bridge was not mentioned, it would mostly likely cross between the Alexandra Gardens and Birrarung Marr between Princes Bridge and the Swan St Bridge.

In 2014, then lord mayor Robert Doyle called for a steel bridge linking the Yarra boatsheds with Birrarung Marr.

A new pedestrian and cyclist bridge linking parks on both sides of the Yarra River has been proposed in a Melbourne City Council plan.

However, it’s understood that the current proposal would be closer to Swan St.

Lord Mayor Sally Capp said she was keen for the inner city’s green spaces to be linked similar to London’s famous Hyde Park, St James Park and other parks and gardens.

“We are the fastest growing city in the Western world, and preserving and creating new green open spaces is really important,” she said.

Cr Capp’s election manifesto included a concept plan for a local version of popular New York linear park High Line, which occupies disused elevated rail lines.

But the Lord Mayor has accepted that any Melbourne version will be different as it’s too problematic to build over active CBD rail lines.

The concept involves linking Birrarung Marr to green spaces like Enterprize and Batman parks on the north bank.

Cr Capp said the revised concept, now called Greenline, will include “undulation”.

“My vision is that at times when we can go up and be at those levels to give new perspectives of the city, we will, and when it needs to come down again due to logistical reasons,” she said.

The concept involves linking Birrarung Marr to green spaces like Enterprize and Batman parks on the north bank, and including private sector spaces such as planned for the Melbourne Quarter development in Docklands between Flinders and Collins streets.

An elevated section along Wurundjeri Way linking to a deck over rail lines behind Marvel Stadium is an option being looked at.

At a city council meeting last week, People City portfolio chair Cr Beverley Pinder raised concerns about the potential cost of Greenline, and questioned why it was included in the council’s draft City River Strategy.

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@JMasanauskas