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Policies and initiatives
> Direction 4. A more prosperous
city > Policy 4.2
Policy 4.2– Strengthen Central Melbourne’s
capital city functions and its role as the primary business, retail,
sport and entertainment hub for the metropolitan area
Central Melbourne is Victoria’s largest and
most varied focus of activity. One of the nation’s principal
concentrations of business, tourist, cultural, entertain-ment, research
and government activity, it is a major hub of transport and communications
networks and the State’s gateway to the global economy. Despite
the effects of information technology and the knowledge-based innovation
economy, it remains a place where human contact is valued. Victoria’s
prosperity will continue to be strongly linked to that of Central
Melbourne. The Government will maintain and build on that prosperity.
However, while the City of Melbourne is one of
the State’s fastest-growing municipalities with increasing
population and many billions of dollars committed in development
investments that will benefit the region and the whole State, Central
Melbourne still faces difficult challenges. Some business head-quarters
have relocated elsewhere and there is increasing competition for
investment from other cities in Australia and overseas. Major changes
to service provision are being forced by the changing nature of
retailing and employment, and by competition from Principal and
Major Activity Centres in the suburbs.
Further growth in appropriate areas of Central
Melbourne will be encouraged. Growth will continue in Southbank
and Docklands (as mixed residential and commercial precincts). Development
in sympathy with the character of the area and that retains its
high quality of amenity will also occur in the biotechnology research,
education and production precinct centred in Parkville but will
be limited to uses that accord with the research focus of the precinct.
The Central Activities District will be planned
and managed to retain its position as the prime office and retailing
centre for the metropolitan area as well as a major destination
for visitors. Large-scale sport and entertainment facilities of
State or national significance will be located within Central Melbourne
and close to the Principal Public Transport Network.
To retain and attract visitors and highly skilled
workers, a variety of housing types will be provided and amenity
and transport and communications infrastructure will continue to
improve in this area.
More than any other part of metropolitan Melbourne,
Central Melbourne depends on the quality and capacity of the public
transport system to move people to, from and around it. Yet, while
it has the city’s best network of services – tram, bus
and train – Central Melbourne is experiencing capacity limitations
that, if not addressed, will make it difficult to meet the Government’s
target of 20 per cent public transport mode share by 2020. The capacity
constraints mainly affect tram and train operations. They will be
addressed in line with increased demand.
Continued investment in Central Melbourne is proposed
to increase its attractiveness as a place that draws globally-oriented
business activities and tourists from overseas and interstate (see
‘The Yarra Plan’). This is the area that encapsulates
metropolitan Melbourne and Victoria for many overseas and interstate
visitors. Its parks and gardens, conference and exhibition facilities,
museums, concert halls and art galleries, urban design and public
buildings match the best in the world, and make it a place for face-to-face
contact and interaction with people. These high standards will be
maintained.
A program of ongoing investment in Central Melbourne
is required for public and private sectors. The partnership between
the Government, the area’s local governments, including Melbourne
City Council, and business organisations will be reactivated to
identify and target key projects, coordinate implementation, monitor
progress and maximise the benefits flowing from investments.
Initiatives
| 4.2.1 |
Work with major stakeholders to develop Central
Melbourne’s attractiveness to all major sectors, and its
role as a regional hub for globally competitive business
and tourism |
| 4.2.2 |
Complete currently committed civic improvement
projects, including the new facilities for the Commonwealth
Games, improvements to the Yarra Northbank precinct and additional
facilities in the arts precinct |
| 4.2.3 |
Work towards provision of major new facilities,
such as an enlarged convention centre, and completion of the
Yarra Plan |
| 4.2.4
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Investigate ways to improve the capacity of
the public transport system in Central Melbourne, including
upgrading signalling in the Underground Loop and the potential
for new tram links to Fishermans Bend/Port Melbourne, Docklands
and Southbank |
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The Yarra Plan
In February 2001, the Premier asked the Department of Infrastructure
to lead the development of an integrated development and management
plan for the Yarra River precinct in Central Melbourne. The
aim was to provide a long-term vision, and to promote the
precinct as a vibrant waterfront environment for tourism,
commercial and residential activity leading up to the Commonwealth
Games in 2006.
The Government wants to see this precinct
developed as:
- an essential part of central city attractions
- a highly accessible and safe area
- a high-quality pedestrian and cycling environment with
linkages along and across the precinct
- an area capable of hosting major festivals and events
- a focus for the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
The Yarra Plan incorporates public and private
projects to unlock and unify Melbourne’s inner-city riverside
location.
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It integrates the many land-use and development
opportunities around the Yarra River, enhancing the riverside
setting as a popular destination in the heart of the city
and the premier sport, recreation and entertainment destination
in Victoria, if not Australia. Implementation will extend
to 2006.
Key projects include:
- constructing Northbank Promenade
- developing Queensbridge Square
- redeveloping Richmond Station
- upgrading the Melbourne Cricket Ground
- upgrading Melbourne Park and Olympic Park
- revitalising the intersection of King and Flinders Streets
and the surrounding area
- redeveloping the site of the old Fish Market in Flinders
Street
- redeveloping Sandridge Bridge
- undertaking significant residential development in Southbank.
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Figure 34. Northbank concept - click for more detail
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