Melbourne's Fishermans Bend Precinct Approved

Victoria Planning Minister Matthew Guy has approved the final master plan for the development of a new inner city suburb that will more than double the size of Melbourne’s central city.

Mr Guy said completion of the Fishermans Bend Strategic Framework Plan (SFP) would guide the development of a 250 hectare precinct on the doorstep to Melbourne’s CBD.

Fishermans Bend will create a new, vibrant community containing a genuine mix of residential, commercial, retail entertainment, industry, transport and community facilities.

The Fishermans Bend Urban Renewal Area is made-up of four precincts; Lorimer precinct located in the City of Melbourne on the eastern side of the Bolte Bridge and Montague, Sandridge and Wirraway precincts located in the City of Port Phillip.

“Fishermans Bend is Australia’s most significant urban renewal project and this plan provides a long term framework for a precinct that will transform Melbourne by linking the CBD to Port Phillip Bay, supporting 40,000 new jobs and providing homes for at least 80,000 residents,” Mr Guy said.

"Construction alone will deliver billions of dollars in economic benefits to Victoria over the next 40 years. The precinct will ultimately double the size of our central city, boosting Melbourne’s productivity by extending the capital city’s commercial appeal and skilled workforce.

“Fishermans Bend will be served by excellent transport links, serviced by cycling and pedestrian links, roads, trams and rail via the new Melbourne Rail Link. The new rail link will include a new underground station at Montague precinct, which will provide a high volume of peak services early in the development of the area.”

Mr Guy said the development of Fishermans Bend was a key initiative of Plan Melbourne, which sets out the management of Victoria’s growth to 2050.

“Melbourne is expected to have a population of 7.7 million by 2051, rapidly growing from its current population of 4.3 million. Accommodating this growth requires careful long term planning and development in strategically important locations,” Mr Guy said.

“The Victorian Coalition Government’s metropolitan planning strategy, Plan Melbourne, identified Fishermans Bend as a key growth area for Melbourne and a strategically important development opportunity. Planning for the precinct identifies a mix of housing options, commercial opportunities and attractive public spaces, facilities and key services.

“Planning for Fishermans Bend has been informed by extensive community consultation and collaboration with the City of Melbourne and City of Port Phillip.”

The Fishermans Bend SFP has been adopted as an amendment to the Melbourne and Port Phillip planning schemes.

“Development of Fishermans Bend is a 40-year project but I have approved a limited number of permit applications that will allow some construction to start in the near future. Developers will be required to make financial contributions towards new infrastructure as part of their permit conditions,” Mr Guy said.

Mr Guy said permit applications for land within the precinct would be assessed in the context of the Fishermans Bend SFP.

The Metropolitan Planning Authority

, which prepared the plan, will become the Responsible Authority for the precinct.