New neighbourhood revealed

Lend Lease is awaiting planning approval for the residential component of its Melbourne Quarter development in the south-east corner of Docklands.

The developer has proposed three residential towers on the Flinders St end of the site, with two high-rise towers fronting Flinders St and a mid-rise building nestled behind and fronting a new public park.

In total, the development will deliver an additional 1644 apartments to Docklands and an estimated 3000 new residents.

A north/south lane will connect Flinders St with Collins St and will provide the main access between residential neighbourhood near Flinders St with the planned commercial precinct on Collins St.

According to a Lend Lease spokesperson, the laneway will start on Collins St and lead through to the neighbourhood park on the southern side of the development, then connecting with Flinders St via steps.

“Due to the varying site topography, a series of steps will descend through the residential precinct to Flinders St through a new pedestrian opening proposed in the heritage wall. A public lift will also be provided adjacent to the steps,” the spokesperson said.

“The northern part of the laneway will be a vehicle and pedestrian shared zone, with a vehicle-turning and drop-off area in the centre of the precinct for vehicles entering from and exiting to Collins St. The southern part of the laneway will be pedestrian only, with access for emergency and maintenance vehicles only when required.”

City of Melbourne considered the Melbourne Quarter residential proposal at its April 5 Future Melbourne Committee meeting.

Councillors unanimously supported the proposal subject to a number of conditions.

The City of Melbourne has indicated it will not take on ownership or management of the neighbourhood park in the middle of the residential neighbourhood because minimum soil depths cannot be achieved.

According to a council report, Lend Lease had indicated it was impossible to achieve the required 1.5 metre soil depth and council says it would only be feasible to own and manage the park if these required design standards were achieved.

While the council will own and manage the north/south laneway following development, it has indicated it will not take responsibility for the stairs at the southern entrance to the lane.

According to the Lend Lease spokesperson, both the neighbourhood park and the stairs will be owned and managed by the master owners’ corporation for the residential buildings and will be open to the public.

The proposal is currently awaiting approval from Planning Minister Richard Wynne.