Shock cost of Sally Capp’s pet Melbourne Greenline project, before construction has started

Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp’s pet Greenline project has already cost ratepayers millions, even though construction has not yet begun.

Melbourne’s City Council’s long-awaited Greenline project has already cost ratepayers more than $15m.

Melbourne’s City Council’s long-awaited Greenline project has already cost ratepayers more than $15m even though construction has not yet even begun.

Hoardings have been erected on a small site near Federation Square at Birrarung Marr – the only sign of any progress for the $316m controversial riverside project.

Greenline has been Lord Mayor Sally Capp’s pet venture since being elected in 2018. It aims to create 4km of connected walkways and parks along the north bank of the Yarra River.

The latest quarterly financial report for Greenline has shown total expenditure since 2021 of $15.8 million.

Hoardings near Federation Square for the City of Melbourne's first stage of the Greenline project at Birrarung Marr.

Council said the money had been spent on planning, early investigative works, design, development of the project’s Master Plan, as well as precinct and concept plans.

The budget was also spent on “engagement with the community, industry and government’’.

Cr Capp said she was proud of what had been delivered so far, saying the transformation of Birrarung Marr was under way.

“A comprehensive Master Plan has also been developed, that is backed by extensive community engagement,’’ Cr Capp said.

Artist’s impression of how Birrarung Marr will get a bright, new look.

“In the coming months, we’ll open the Greenline Project Hub – providing city visitors with a space to ask questions and learn more about this city-shaping project.

“The Greenline Project will transform Melbourne’s riverfront from Birrarung Marr to the Bolte Bridge – while creating thousands of jobs, attracting waves of new visitors, and injecting millions of dollars into the economy.”

Stage One construction is due to start at Birrarung Marr next month after investigative works were completed on site.

The plan for the first phase is to create 450m of boardwalks and green spaces from Batman Ave to the eastern edge of Federation Square.

The riverside project aims to provide a series of connected walkways and parks.

The schedule for the entire project, all the way to Bolte Bridge with five precincts, has blown out to 2030.

In January Victoria Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Paul Guerra

called on the Lord Mayor to pause the project until after elections in October so a future council was not burdened with a potential white elephant.

The federal government pledged $20 million as an election commitment, while the state is yet to say if it would back the project.

Uncertainty also exists over whether Greenline would provide an uninterrupted and continuous journey along the Yarra waterfront as first promised.

Preliminary works near Federation Square in preparation for Greenline’s first stage at Birrarung Marr.

The masterplan shows that pedestrians would still have to navigate three major intersections – at Spencer, King and Queens Bridge streets – along the 4km route.

Documents have also revealed that Greenline only has a “medium” chance of delivering on its projections to increase the number of visits to the north bank by about 1.1 million.

The business case – released through Freedom of Information laws – listed “a lack of tourism infrastructure and facilities along the Yarra River” could lead to the project not reaching its visitor targets.

The business case, prepared by Ernst & Young in 2022, estimated a benefit-to-cost ratio of $3.29 for every dollar spent.