Expressions of interest for Greenline project to open

A major riverside project being touted as “the biggest transformation” of Melbourne in years is now a step closer to becoming reality.

Work on Lord Mayor Sally Capp’s much-touted Greenline project could soon become a reality, with expressions of interest for the project to open at the end of this week.

In a speech to be delivered for Melbourne Design Week on Wednesday, Ms Capp will reveal a bid for global and local companies to design the signature project.

First announced as an election pitch, development on the $300 million proposal of the CBD is ramping up and the EOI process will seek designs that help to transform the heart of the city as it recovers from the pandemic.

The Greenline is a proposed trail of parks and walkways between Birrarung Marr and the Bolte Bridge which would include major landscaping efforts and new spots for hospitality, entertainment and cultural venues.

“Over the next six years this northern bank of Melbourne’s riverfront will transform before our eyes,” Ms Capp will say.

“It will become the stunning centrepiece of our city, bursting with environmental, economic and social gains.

“I am a lover of parks and green space and Greenline is one of my passion projects.”

How Batman Hill Park in Docklands could look.

Ms Capp will also say the project will have five different precincts.

“You can imagine it now – balmy January nights wandering uninterrupted from a match at the Australian Open to the waterfront bars, restaurants and night-life of Docklands.

“Many cities have superb river banks and that’s what we’re creating here in Melbourne.

“Greenline is the biggest transformation of our city since the completion of Southbank Promenade in 1990, and the opening of Fed Square in 2002.”

The City of Melbourne is forecasting that the completed project would lure up to 1.1 million extra visitors to Melbourne and increase visitor spending by $23 million.

“The original concept was inspired by the Highline project in New York,” Ms Capp will say on Wednesday.

“It is now the Big Apple’s most popular tourist attraction.

“It has the power to deliver more than $1 billion in economic activity in the next two decades, and create up to 6,400 new ongoing jobs over the life of the project.”

Flinders Walk along the Yarra River.

“When complete we’re projecting it will encourage the development of some 4,000 additional dwellings and up to 110,000 square metres of commercial floor space.

“It will also return the harsh concrete to its natural riverbank state, improving the flora and fauna of our river and increasing canopy cover by 40 per cent along the north bank.”

The council is asking for $100 million each from the state and federal government to help fast-track its construction.

In a final plan released late last year, the City of Melbourne rejected a proposal by Yarra Pools for a series of pools and wetlands but backed landscape and art installations for Enterprize Park.

Originally published as Expressions of interest for Greenline project to open