Melbourne Weighs In on Gurner’s Biosphere Plans

Gurner might have to add a school to his biosphere development after the Future Melbourne Committee and its officers got to weigh in on the plans.

The $1.7-billion Elysium Fields project within the Digital Harbour precinct plans were for a mix of 1350 build-to-rent or sell apartments, a 100-key hotel and a 250-key hotel, announced in March.

This was changed in the submitted plans to 713 apartments, retail and parkland along with the extension of Digital Drive, next to Marvel Stadium.

However, one tower was missing from the original announcement, which could be added to the precinct later.

These amendments—built upon an August 2021 approval for a single office and retail building—were referred by the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning to the City of Melbourne for comment.

However, councillors said there were “substantial differences” between the approved and amended plan.

▲ The approved development under the prepared by Bates Smart dated May 2021 on the smaller original site.

They voted unanimously with council officers to not support the proposal in this form.

In particular the new plans by Fraser and Partners were for three buildings, one build-to-sell and two build-to-rent towers along with two public parks and retail with a development cost of $350 million.

The “pathway to yes” from council included adding a schooling facility, undergoing a design review process for towers 2 and 3 prior to approval along with a review of internal amenities.

Development Victoria was the owner of 12,500sq m-plus site at 208-226 Harbour Esplanade—also known as 30–40 Digital Drive, Docklands—to be developed by Digital Harbour Developments Pty Ltd led by Tim Gurner.

▲ The larger site for the new development extends to Dudley Street and includes two new public parks with buildings up to 99m and 365 carparks and 669 bicycle parks. Image: Nearmap

Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece said the area was in desperate need of new schools and while they liked these plans they needed to look at the bigger picture.

“We’re really, really keen to see some development proceed on this site and we also support the ambitions the applicant has for this site as well,” Reece said at the FMC meeting.

“The truth is when Docklands was first developed close to 30 years ago there wasn’t a proper provisioning for things like schools, health services, child and maternal health services.

“We’ve had a really difficult job of retrofitting these things in over the decades and it hasn’t been easy.

“One of the ways we have tried to do this is through requiring this community contribution with new developments.

“You look at Docklands Primary School, Adam Bright, brilliant principal there, at the moment he’s got kids in classrooms in former retail shops.

“We were able to strike a deal with AsheMorgan and get those classrooms but it’s far from ideal, kids are going to school in a shopping centre.

“We need to take every opportunity we have to find new spaces and new opportunities to leverage schools in this area.”

▲ Fraser and Partners design for the three towers planned at Docklands, the tallest tower would have build-to-sell apartments.

Contour Consulting director Simon Gilbertson presented Gurner’s case to the committee.

“It would be fair to say that there are elements of disagreement between the permit applicant and the council officers,” Gilbertson said.

“However I’d like to say the officers in undertaking that thorough assessment have put forward a number of very constructive conditions to deal with.

“Certainly our client is receptive to and is looking forward to creating this important precinct.

“It has been a dustbowl and Melbourne Water [Corporation] carpark for a long time and there needs to be some heavy lifting in terms of urban renewal.”

The project heads back to the state goverment for futher consideration before a planning permit can be granted.