Redevelopment plans abandoned

Places Victoria and City of Melbourne appear to have abandoned plans to revitalise Docklands’ Batman’s Hill Precinct.

Former Places Victoria chairman Peter Clarke announced a $3 million project for the precinct in August last year

The plan centred on the 1.9 hectare site bordered by Collins St, Village St, Wurundjeri Way and Batman’s Hill Drive, which is home to Lindsay Fox’s classic car collection and the Kangan Institute’s Automotive Centre of Excellence (ACE).

The redevelopment was to be funded by Places Victoria, City of Melbourne and the Fox Trust and was to include:

A park to be created on the corner of Collins St and Harbour Esplanade;
A new exhibition space; and
An internalised bluestone piazza between the Queens Warehouse, which housed the classic car collection, and the Automotive Centre of Excellence (ACE)

When Mr Clarke announced the project it was suggested that work on the redevelopment could start by 2013.

But so far there has been no work at the site and both Places Victoria and City of Melbourne were non-committal when asked about the status of project.

According to Places Victoria general manager precincts Simon Wilson, the City of Melbourne was working with the Fox Classic Car Museum on the preliminary planning for the proposed redevelopment.

“Places Victoria understands that until funding is committed a timeline for delivery of the project cannot be determined,” Mr Wilson said.

A City of Melbourne spokesperson said council was continuing to investigate opportunities for the Queens Lawn area.

It is unclear why the project was announced last year if funding had not been committed and there was no development plan in place.