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The city has added its support to a strategic plan for Melbourne’s Docklands that will guide the precinct into its next era.
At its meeting this week, the City of Melbourne’s Future Melbourne Committee endorsed the creation of the new strategic plan as well as implementing a governance review.
The moves were put forward following the recent Docklands Summit, which provided an opportunity for residents and stakeholders to discuss what was needed for future development and planning.
“The Docklands Summit was an important event for our city, offering a chance to reset the conversation and identify potential solutions and actions to revitalise the precinct,” Melbourne lord mayor Sally Capp told The Urban Developer.
The Docklands Act, formerly the Docklands Authority Act, was implemented in 1991 and paved the way for key development in the area.
It handed over control of development in the area, especially on major projects, to Development Victoria.
This allowed developers such as MAB Corporation to undertake major projects spanning several development sites and years.
Since 1991, nearly $15 billion has been invested in the area.
With many of these many projects now delivered or close to completion, the City of Melbourne saw the need for a post-Docklands Act strategy.
The council also said that it was important to pair it with a governance review and to ensure that what people needed in the area was delivered.
“Most of the objectives and visions of those decisions to set up the Docklands Act and the strategic documents that fill out that process early on have mostly been implemented,” Councillor Rohan Leppert said.
“There’s a few key blocks that are yet to be developed.”
Leppert also said that if different levels of government were not aware of what was proposed in development agreements between developers and Development Victoria for financial, developmental and resident yield with projects, it made it harder for the council to accurately plan for community development and needs.
The decision comes on the heels of the launch of the Docklands’ Neighbourhood Portal last month.
Similar to Kensington’s, it is aimed at better engaging the community over planning and development decisions and with the council’s actions.
The motion put forward at the committee meeting dealt with several immediate next steps identified by the council through feedback at the summit.
“We’ve listened carefully to what our residents and businesses had to say and identified a range of potential projects to deliver in partnership with the Victorian Government as short, medium and long-term actions,” Capp said.
“These projects include the temporary beautification around Victoria Harbour, improvements to Yanonung Quay, attracting new events to the area, preparing a Public Realm Improvement Plan, and working with the Victorian Government to improve decision making and create a Strategic Plan for Docklands.”
The strategic plan would include a precinct-wide vision,with sub-precincts and their characteristics, feasibility options for a new or expanded school, a review of planning controls and recommendations for changes and transformational projects.
When projects have funding and resourcing they will be added to the Neighbourhood Portal for the community feedback.
The council also noted that the development of Central Pier fell outside the scope of the council as it was being handled by another level of government but that it was key to the future of the area.
“We’re doubling down on our efforts to work with Development Victoria around the redevelopment of Central Pier,” deputy lord mayor Nicholas Reece said.
“It is an absolute must for Docklands—it has such potential.
“In the same way that Circular Quay is a world-famous location, I think Yanonung Quay can be a world-famous location in Melbourne.”
The council also endorsed asking Development Victoria to restore public access to the currently closed Moonee Creek Ponds Trail.
Docklands has rapidly become a major residential area but there is still room for developers.
Capital Alliance recently filed plans for a $340-million twin tower development on Pearl River Road, while Gurner has also made a play for development in the area with a $1.7-billion project.
As well, the council has just approved a $152-million build-to-rent project by Samma on the Shed 2 site near the Bolte Bridge.
