Tim leaves Victoria Harbour proud

By Meg Hill

After three-and-a-half years leading development around Victoria Harbour, Lendlease’s Tim Campbell is getting ready to leave the dock.

Mr Campbell said his time as Victoria Harbour project director had been characterised by rapid development, paralleled by the evolution of the community.

“I stand back and I am very proud of what we’ve done,” Mr Campbell said.

“We’ve had unprecedented development in that time but it’s not just about building the buildings for us, it’s about creating a sense of community at the same time.”

Mr Campbell’s four main highlights correlate to this theme and a sense of a coming of age in Docklands.

“There’s the delivery of the Community Hub at The Dock that houses three of the local boating associations and seeing that important community infrastructure come to life and be utilised has been a highlight,” Mr Campbell said.

“I, as a result of that project, became a member of the Melbourne Flames Dragon Boat Club. I’ve immersed myself in that club and facility and I’m doing a sport that I never thought I would do, and I really enjoy it.”

Mr Campbell’s other highlights include delivering 1600 new apartments, securing ANZ to further commitment in the precinct and the approval of the Collins Wharf Development Plan.

“The Collins Wharf Development will be an asset to Melbourne’s skyline, its such a unique project,” said Mr Campbell

“The vision is about connecting the wharf back to the water and making people use the waterfront.”

“At completion it will have a 2.5km board walk across Victoria Harbour and returning that waterfront to the community is such an important piece of the project.”

The interest in incorporating the waterfront more into Docklands’ identity goes further than that, with plans to embrace the area’s natural wetland.

“We’re returning the peninsula of the land to a wetland and a marsh, and planting a wetland to return that peninsula underneath the Bolte Bridge back to what it once was.”

Before leaving to start his own business in property development and small-scale residential projects, Mr Campbell said his first priority was to oversee a smooth transition.

“I’m not rushing off. I’m here for the coming months to help recruit and appoint a successor and to hand over to that successor and ensure a seamless transition with the new project director,” he said.

“Through that process I know that they’ll be equally excited as I am to lead the Lendlease team and deliver this incredible project.”

From his experience working in Canary Wharf in London, Mr Campbell said he could offer some parting hints on the future of Docklands.

“From what we’ve seen in the past 20 years, the next 10 years will be huge for the precinct and Docklands.”

“Across the Docklands there is only supposed to be 10 years left in the development project, so we will see the form build out, all the community assets completed and it will be a different place.

“I saw that in Canary Wharf. I saw it grow and become a desirable place to live, work, play – which is exactly what we want for Vic Harbour.”