The City of Melbourne has drawn inspiration from international waterfront transformation projects for the design of its Greenline Project, featuring tree-lined vistas, riverfront boardwalks, event spaces, natural wetlands and cultural meeting places.
The proposed design ideas, created by landscape architecture and design experts TCL and Aspect Studios, illustrate the experience of visiting the transformed north bank of the Yarra River – Birrarung.
The Greenline Project will create 4km of interconnected promenades, parks, open spaces, native plantings, cultural activations and environmental renewal between Birrarung Marr and the Bolte Bridge.
The project will also feature significant recognition and celebration of contemporary Wurundjeri culture and heritage.
Melbourne Lord Mayor, Sally Capp, said, “The Greenline Project will revitalise the north bank of the Yarra River, creating thousands of jobs, attracting waves of new visitors, and injecting millions of dollars into our economy.
“Our landscape architecture and design experts have crafted an incredible vision for what the Greenline Project could look like, with stunning boardwalks, event spaces, native vegetation and outdoor dining.
“We want to hear what the community thinks to best inform the Masterplan and deliver maximum value for Melburnians,” Mayor Capp said.
Covering all five precincts of the Greenline Project, the design proposals have been prepared for community feedback as part of ongoing work to develop the draft Greenline Project Masterplan, which is scheduled for completion in the coming months.
The proposed design ideas have drawn inspiration from internationally renowned waterfront transformations including the Brooklyn Bridge Park in New York, the Park de Docks in Paris, the Auckland Waterfront in New Zealand and the Seattle Waterfront.
City of Melbourne Transport, Infrastructure and Operations portfolio deputy lead, Councillor Davydd Griffiths, said, “The Greenline Project is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a new internationally recognisable destination in the heart of our city.
“These latest design ideas show the breath-taking scale and bold ambition of this project, which will deliver significant benefits for local businesses.”
If endorsed by councillors, the proposed designs will go to community consultation via Participate Melbourne and will be used to inform the draft Greenline Project Masterplan.
The release of the latest designs follows Council’s endorsement of the Greenline Project business case last year.
Prepared by Ernst & Young, the business case estimates a benefit to cost ratio of $3.29 for every dollar spent, with the project expected to attract an additional $1.9 billion of private sector investment.
The Greenline Project is expected to create more than 3,400 jobs during construction, more than 6,400 ongoing jobs by 2042, and attract more than 1.1 million additional visitors to the city every year.
Featured image: Artist’s rendition of the proposed Greenline Project design at Flinders Walk. Image courtesy of City of Melbourne.
