Docklands provides unexpected hope for delivery of Greenline vision

The City of Melbourne will be pulling its funding for Greenline in the upcoming budget due to a lack of further support from the state or federal governments. However, despite the setback, a silver lining can be found in Docklands.

While the broader delivery of the project remains in limbo, the council is looking to continue implementing parts of it through its partnerships plan, with Docklands set to be one of the key beneficiaries.

The project is the brainchild of former Lord Mayor Sally Capp, and the first phase at Birrarung Marr is due to be completed by the end of this year, delivering 450 metres of boardwalks and native plantings along the north bank of the Yarra.

While the council’s coffers are dry, no timeline can currently be provided for the remaining stages of the four-kilometre elevated pathway stretching from Birrarung Marr to Docklands. However, thanks to a partnership with Lendlease, the tail end of the project will still be delivered despite the current funding shortfall.

Lendlease is currently constructing Towers Two and Three of its Collins Wharf development, with one tower already complete. As part of this development, Lendlease will help create the northern and southern promenades and open space areas on Collins Wharf, which form the western end of the Greenline project.

Collins Wharf will eventually provide more than 1800 residences across six architecturally designed buildings, surrounded by more than 5000 square metres of parkland.

Lendlease completed the first building in the precinct, No. 1 Collins Wharf, in 2019 and is scheduled to complete the second, Regatta, in 2026. The third tower, Ancora, is expected to be finished the following year.

A Lendlease spokesperson confirmed that "the new park along the north side of Collins St will be delivered in tandem with the residential buildings, Regatta and Ancora, with the park anticipated to open early 2027.”

At the Future Melbourne Committee (FMC) meeting on May 20, Cr Philip Le Liu tabled a motion proposing that the council end its commitment to Greenline by the end of the year if the state and federal governments do not make funding commitments and the necessary permits for the project are not approved.

However, Lord Mayor Nick Reece defended the project, saying that while further funds had not yet been secured from higher levels of government, progress was still being made through the council’s funding and partnerships plan.

“Greenline has always been a city-shaping project, one that relies on strong partnerships to bring it to life – and our upcoming budget reflects that,” the Lord Mayor said.

“We’ll continue to advocate for additional funding to deliver future stages of the program, because we know the numbers stack up.”

The Maritime Precinct, between Spencer St and Charles Grimes Bridge, will also benefit thanks to the the soon-to-open 3500sqm “Seafarers Rest” park built through a partnership with Riverlee’s Seafarers development.

The Lord Mayor also hinted that an agreement with VicTrack for the renewal of the Banana Alley Vaults would be finalised soon.

Cr Le Liu’s attempt to either expedite funding and delivery of the project or end the council’s commitment was not widely supported, with Cr Owen Guest the only other councillor to vote for the motion.

Cr Rafael Camillo and Cr Gladys Liu abstained from voting, while the Lord Mayor and councillors Roshena Campbell, Mark Scott, Kevin Louey, Davyyd Griffiths, Dr Olivia Ball, and Andrew Rowse all voted against.

Although Cr Rowse voted against the motion he did sympathise with the rationale behind it. However, he does not believe it worth playing “chicken” with other levels of government.

“While the intent might be positive to try and get an outcome for the City of Melbourne, I think we’re gambling with things where we only sit in a position of loss,” he said.

“[The motion] would drop a plan that can and will be funded appropriately in the future when that funding is available rather than throwing the baby out with the bath water,” he added.

Cr Dr Ball said only weeks after the council staged its 2050 Summit, the suggestion of Cr Le Liu’s motion to effectively abandon Greenline was not aligned with future visions for the city. She argued that if the north bank of the Yarra River still looked how it does today by 2050 it would represent a shameful and “terrible” outcome.

Cr Dr Ball added that all the funds, resources and time invested to date into the creation of what was an award-winning project would all feel like a waste if the council were to reverse its commitment now.

“To kill it off now would be to waste those funds that have already been expended,” Cr Dr Ball said. “To carry this vision forward, even if we’re not planning to advance it in the immediate and short-term would be to make the most of those costs already expended.” •