The City of Melbourne has unveiled artist’s impressions and a video of its $35 million plan for over six acres of new public open space on Southbank Boulevard and Dodds Street, Southbank.

The Future Melbourne Committee will consider the Draft Concept Plan, which has been shaped and informed by extensive community and stakeholder engagement, on Tuesday 18 July 2017.

Southbank Boulevard looking west from St Kilda Road with proposed green tramway.

The Draft Concept Plan includes 10 key actions with a three-stage construction plan which will see the project completed in 2020. Key aspects include:

– 1.05 km of dedicated, separated bicycle lanes,
– water sensitive urban design and flood mitigation,
– upgraded tram and bus stops, including the potential for ‘green’ tram tracks,
– improved biodiversity through extensive planting and a new generation of diverse trees with seasonal variation and year-round interest, and
– a critical neighbourhood space for Southbank.

Kavanagh Street to Fawkner Park with new trees and play space.

“The new public open spaces and neighbourhood parks we’re creating in Southbank will improve public amenity for the 20,000 residents and 50,000 office workers in the city’s most densely populated suburb,” Lord Mayor Robert Doyle says.

Moore Street to Kavanagh Street with new neighbourhood park.

“The space planned for the front of the ABC alone would be roughly the same size as the City Square. Dodds Street will be remade into a public space that can cater for everything from street performances to farmers’ markets and medium scale music festivals at the doorstep of the Victorian College of the Arts.”

New public open space and trees from Sturt Street to St Kilda Road.

“Converting grey to green supports the City of Melbourne’s strategies for managing the urban forest, climate change, water, biodiversity and wellbeing,” Chair of the City of Melbourne’s Environment Portfolio Cr Cathy Oke says.

Southbank Promenade looking east to St Kilda Road.

“Green spaces reduce stormwater volumes, reduce the impact of development on ecosystems, increase biodiversity, provide habitats for wildlife, keep our soil moist and reduce the urban heat island effect.”

The reconfigured Southbank Boulevard will continue to accommodate current traffic volumes. In 1988, Southbank Boulevard carried 40,000 to 50,000 vehicles a day. The boulevard now carries 13,000 vehicles a day after direct access to the central city was closed following the construction of Queensbridge Square in 2001.

Kavanagh Street crossing.

The new open space will support the increased residential population in Southbank, which is forecast to rise by 175 percent over the next 15 years.

Renders courtesy City of Melbourne.

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See the City of Melbourne’s plans for new green spaces for Carlton here.