The failure of the nation's largest urban renewal project | 7.30

Key Concepts

• Urban Renewal Project: A large-scale redevelopment of an existing urban area.
• Precinct: A distinct area within a city, often with a specific character or function.
• Transit Links: Transportation infrastructure, such as trams, trains, and buses, connecting different areas.
• Infrastructure: The basic physical and organizational structures and facilities (e.g., buildings, roads, power supplies) needed for the operation of a society or enterprise.
• Zoning: The division of land into districts with specific regulations on land use and development.

Fisherman's Bend: A Delayed Urban Renewal Vision

Fisherman's Bend, a 480-hectare site located just 2 kilometers from Melbourne's CBD, was envisioned as Australia's largest urban renewal project. Launched in 2016 by the state Labor government, the ambitious plan promised a significant influx of housing and high-tech jobs, facilitated by new transit links for easy city access. However, nine years later, the precinct remains largely underdeveloped and lacking in amenities, leading to widespread criticism and stalled progress.

The Promise vs. The Reality

The initial vision for Fisherman's Bend was to transform a relic of Victoria's manufacturing past into a vibrant hub for 80,000 residents and 80,000 jobs by 2050. This transformation was heavily reliant on the development of crucial transport access, particularly a tram route connecting directly from the CBD.

• Key Point: The core of the redevelopment plan was predicated on improved transport access.
• Specific Detail: The projected completion date for the full vision is 2050.

Transportation: The Critical Bottleneck

The absence of a promised tram route from the CBD has been identified as a major impediment to Fisherman's Bend's redevelopment. Guy Nelli, president of the precinct's business forum, highlights the long-standing expectation for this vital connection, noting that the planned tram route's landing point is evident but the infrastructure itself is absent.

• Key Argument: Uncertainty over transport is a significant setback.
• Supporting Evidence: Under the government's new transit plan, trams could be 10 to 30 years away, with no set timeline.
• Technical Term: "Transit links" refers to the transportation infrastructure crucial for connectivity.
• Analogy: Nelli likens the situation to "shooting arrows in the air and hoping that one of them is going to land," emphasizing the lack of a concrete plan.
• Current Plan: For now, the state intends to rely on more buses.

Stalled Development and Missed Opportunities

The lack of clear timelines for transport infrastructure has led to significant setbacks for key projects.

• Case Study: The University of Melbourne had plans for a new engineering and design campus in Fisherman's Bend, intended to host 10,000 students and staff by 2031. However, these plans are now on hold, with the university set to reassess them in its next 10-year strategy, which won't be released until the end of the decade.
• Key Point: Insufficient public transport is a direct reason for the University of Melbourne's withdrawal from its initial plans.
• Data: The state government claims nearly $200 million is being spent on infrastructure, including sewage and roads, and nearly 5,000 dwellings are built or under construction.
• Perspective: Louise Crawford, Mayor of the City of Port Phillip, believes the 80,000 residents and 80,000 jobs target is "possible" but emphasizes that public transport is "key to helping that happen."

Criticism of Planning and Prioritization

Planning professor Michael Buckston labels Fisherman's Bend as "possibly the biggest planning failure in Australia's history," citing the stark contrast between the initial promises and the current delivery. He points to other projects, like Melbourne's new metro tunnel and the suburban rail loop, which have seemingly been prioritized over Fisherman's Bend.

• Key Argument: The government has diverted attention and resources to lower-priority projects.
• Supporting Evidence: Buckston states that the government "lost that ability to prioritize what was critical for Melbourne by putting their money and attention into the suburban rail loop and such projects."
• Technical Term: "Zoning mistakes" are mentioned by the Victorian government spokesperson as a reason for delays, implying past regulatory issues.

Government Response and Local Sentiment

The three ministers whose portfolios are connected to Fisherman's Bend declined interview requests. A Victorian government spokesperson attributed some of the delays to "zoning mistakes" made by the previous Liberal government over a decade ago. They also stated that the current transit plan does include a future train tunnel for the precinct.

• Perspective: Mayor Louise Crawford acknowledges the complexity of the project, describing it as "the largest urban renewal in the country" and "retrofitting a suburb that has been industrial is not an easy process at all."
• Local Sentiment: Carol and Romeo Matti, who have operated a deli in Fisherman's Bend for 27 years, have sold their business due to the lack of promised changes. They express disappointment, stating, "Talk but no action from the government. Sad this area. Sad to see it like this." They specifically blame the premier for focusing efforts on the suburban rail loop instead of areas like Fisherman's Bend that require more attention and investment.

Conclusion

Fisherman's Bend represents a significant missed opportunity in urban development. Despite its prime location and ambitious initial vision, the project has been plagued by delays, primarily due to the lack of a clear and timely transport infrastructure plan. While some infrastructure development and housing construction are underway, the core promise of a connected, vibrant precinct with ample jobs and amenities remains largely unfulfilled. The ongoing debate over prioritization and the absence of concrete timelines for key transit links continue to cast a shadow over the future of this potentially transformative urban renewal project.