Development Victoria: how has it come to this?

It’s a fair question many people have been asking since this government agency, born out of Docklands, effectively gave our heritage fleet the boot from its home in Victoria Harbour, initially with as little as four months’ notice.

While its interest in activating the precinct has whittled away to next to nothing over the years, no-one could ever have imagined Development Victoria (DV) could treat these treasured maritime assets in this way.

As it approaches its inevitable exit from Docklands (understood to be around 2030), DV’s agenda for the area seems to have become solely centred around “building homes” and leaving placemaking headaches for others to worry about later.

While there are still people in the government agency who maintain a genuine interest in doing the Docklands project justice, they seem to have become overrun by real estate agents masquerading as public servants.

How can anyone in DV seriously justify evicting the heritage fleet in March, ordering them out of Docklands by June, and claiming no extensions were possible, only to cave to pressure and extend their leases by six months?

To answer the aforementioned question, it should never have come to this. But that doesn’t go far enough in explaining how DV created this situation in the first place – one that has left these heritage vessels now in a desperate race against the clock.

The support DV has shown the heritage operators over the years can’t be overlooked. The sheds they have occupied along North Wharf for many years are a testament to that. But that generosity will all count for nothing if they can’t find a new home.

Yes, they have all known for years that Lendlease would one day be continuing its development along the wharf. All they asked for was due notice and some support in maintaining their presence in Docklands – a commitment DV has previously given.

In its own Community and Place Plan from 2012, it lists under “community priorities”:

“Facilitate the development of berths for heritage vessels, including the Alma ...”

So, where are they supposed to go?

For anyone who attended the crisis meeting convened by the Melbourne Maritime Heritage Network (MMHN) on March 25, they would have perhaps left the discussion feeling a sense of helplessness.

Neither the Alma Doepel nor steam tug Wattle are operational. Their supporters still require time beyond the end of this year to restore their vessels, and now faced with eviction, they have no workshop space to carry out this mission.

The costs associated with their relocation will also eat away at precious funds these not-for-profit organisations have set aside for returning their boats to water.

All operators, including the Enterprize, also come with a lot of “stuff”. It’s one thing to move the vessels to other locations, but they need onshore facilities accessible to where they’re moored.

The consensus that seemed to emerge among stakeholders at the March 25 meeting was that, for the Alma and Wattle in particular, the focus must now be centred on becoming operational again.

While this makes finding another berthing location in Victoria Harbour a reality with the support of the City of Melbourne, it still doesn’t solve the issue of a permanent berth. Talks of a new operational precinct at Yarra’s Edge only suit Wattle and Enterprize – the Alma is unable to access it due to the low clearance at that point of the Bolte Bridge.

Then there’s the long shot of relocating the floating barge ATET and using it as a temporary berth. But this would require significant investment to restore and fit out with the appropriate facilities, not to mention the question of ownership and the current legalities surrounding it.

A map highlighting developer MAB's NewQuay West site (pink). The area in red to its left along the waterfront is owned by Development Victoria.

The obvious solution for keeping the fleet together seems to be over at NewQuay abutting Ron Barassi Snr Park, but DV’s acting group head precincts Imogen Lewis told Docklands News it was “currently not suitable”.

“Development Victoria has previously investigated short-term uses for the site; however, it is currently not suitable as there are no services such as water, electricity or access to the water,” Ms Lewis said.

DV goes on to claim that there is no wharf or mooring opportunity “given the deterioration of the seawall in this location,” but this, as well as the issues around power and water, are hardly impossible challenges.

Fitzgeralds – the company tasked with demolishing Central Pier – has constructed a gangway to get over the seawall to the pontoon at the neighbouring NewQuay West site, where it is currently transporting the pier’s remains to.

The only thing getting in the way of progress seems to be a government agency that has completely lost its way.

If DV has any interest in leaving behind a positive legacy in Docklands and doing what’s right by our heritage fleet, the least it could do is honour its commitments and spend the time and money necessary in making the space at Ron Barassi Snr Park a reality. •