Urgent to-do list of Melbourne’s new lord mayor revealed

MELBOURNE’S new lord mayor will face a raft of unresolved issues and high expectations from residents, businesses and community groups. Here is the urgent to-do list they may find on the mayoral desk on their first day.

MELBOURNE’S new lord mayor will face a raft of unresolved issues and high expectations from residents, businesses, community groups and other authorities.

The sexual harassment scandal that rocked the city council created a vacuum of leadership, distracting management and councillors trying to perform core functions.

Key projects such as the Queen Victoria Market redevelopment have been affected, while issues like homelessness continue to fester.

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Urban Development Institute of Australia state CEO Danni Addison said it was crucial for the lord mayor elected on May 12 to be decisive about what the inner city needed.

“It’s important that business and investment certainty in the City of Melbourne is a key priority, especially for Melbourne’s status as a global city,” Ms Addison said.

Ms Addison, who has had experience across government and the private sector, said the council needed to engage positively in urban renewal areas like Fishermans Bend and Arden Macaulay.

Here, the Herald Sun has identified top priorities for the new lord mayor.

QUEEN VICTORIA MARKET

The $250 million revamp of the Queen Victoria Market will be a major priority for Melbourne’s next lord mayor. Picture: Tony Gough

The grand old lady is to undergo a $250 million revamp, with council’s plan including turning the current carpark into a green plaza and temporarily removing the heritage sheds for refurbishment.

The redevelopment has been delayed, with some observers pointing to the departure of former lord mayor Robert Doyle as a factor, since he championed the project. Mr Doyle’s replacement will need to get on top of the issues and deal with dissenters.

HOMELESSNESS

Millions of dollars has been spent trying to eradicate homelessness in the CBD. Picture: Nicole Garmston

An enduring problem in the CBD, despite millions of dollars spent.

Rough sleepers are attracted by the services provided in the inner city and there is a high turnover of homeless people.

Last year, the council backflipped on a proposal to introduce tough anti-camping laws and instead announced a new protocol involving police and other agencies. While homeless camps around events like the Australian Open have generated media publicity, residents, workers and businesses are fed up with the pop-up encampments.

ELIZABETH ST

A homeless person sleeps at the pop up park on the corner of Elizabeth and Flinders streets. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Linked to the homelessness issue, the transformation of the Elizabeth St-Flinders St precinct has been on the cards for years.

The maligned area got funding for a pedestrian-friendly upgrade including the closure of Elizabeth St to cars travelling south between Flinders Lane and Flinders St.

The council will need to ensure a permanent solution to improve this crucial city gateway.

METRO TUNNEL

Excavations at the former site of the Melbourne City Square in preparation of the Metro Rail Tunnel.

While the $11 billion metro rail project is mainly a state government responsibility, the city council must help manage impact on the CBD during construction.

Council will need to find a new home for its tourist visitor centre at Federation Square due to Metro works, and is also planning to shift the City Library from its cramped Flinders Lane digs.

One option is a new building to be constructed by the Metro authority above the proposed underground station next to Young and Jackson pub.

OBIKES

Obikes piled up on a boat on the Yarra River. Picture: Damon Johnson

The controversial share bikes were dumped on the streets of central Melbourne last June, forcing council to scramble to a find a solution to prevent them blocking footpaths and generally taking up public space.

Mr Doyle described them as “urban clutter” and Town Hall could not regulate other than a memorandum of understanding with oBike management. The nuisance factor has eased but with three more operators talking to the council, more dockless bikes of all colour are likely to be scattered across our streets, up trees or in the Yarra.

DOCKLANDS

The lack of progress on redeveloping Harbour Esplanade has been a sore point.

Docklands continues to divide Melburnians, but there is no doubt the precinct has come a long way in recent years.

Initiatives like Library at the Dock and the arrival of Port Phillip Ferries have given a reason for people to visit the area. However, a sore point is the lack of progress on redeveloping Harbour Esplanade, which has the potential to become a thriving hub linking Docklands with Etihad Stadium and the CBD.

SANDRIDGE BRIDGE

Sandridge Bridge. Picture: David Crosling

The former railway bridge in a prime CBD location is ripe for a stunning redevelopment.

Mr Doyle was talking about turning the 1888 structure into a New York-style High Line linear park, but little progress has been made.

A year ago it was revealed that the bridge would be refurbished under a proposed $40 million redevelopment of the riverside precinct involving Crown’s One Queensbridge hotel tower.

No details have since emerged, putting a question mark over the bridge’s future.

YARRA RIVER

Floating bars such as Supafish have shown new ways to create attractions on the Yarra River, but its potential remains untapped.

The potential of our river remains untapped. More needs to be done to cut red tape as many authorities — Parks Victoria, government departments, Melbourne Water, council and even Transport Safety Victoria — have a say.

Floating bars such as Arbory and Supafish have shown new ways to create attractions on the river in the city centre. And every encouragement should be given to using the Yarra as a commuter waterway.

NORTH BANK

An artist impression of a $110 million redevelopment on the Yarra’s north bank.

The recent approval for a $450 million redevelopment at the former goods shed on North Wharf signals a major step forward for the Yarra’s north bank. The function hall and 17-storey hotel-apartment tower will help link the city to the Docklands.

Work to revive the Batman and Enterprize parks should be on the agenda, too. Council should also encourage the continued upgrade of the Flinders St Station riverfront.

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