Victoria Harbour - the future revealed

Lend Lease has revealed its plans for the future development of Victoria Harbour over the next decade and has invited the Docklands community to provide feedback.

Launching the community consultation process and information sessions on July 15, Lend Lease said the sessions had been designed to give the public opportunity to view and comment on the updated plans.

The developer, which is responsible for the 30 hectare parcel of land for the next 10 years, released key ideas including:

Dividing Victoria Harbour into two distinctive character precincts – The City Quarter and the Wharf Quarter. The City Quarter which is currently being developed will be predominantly high rise, while the Wharf Quarter will have low rise townhouses and apartments;

Reinforcing the relationship with Melbourne CBD by continuing the tram down Collins St to the full length of the project;

Creating a public space, called Dock Square, at the corner of Collins and Bourke streets to celebrate where the two famous streets meet. This space is also touted to include a civic centre with a health and wellness component and may also feature a floating pool in front of it on the water;

Creating public open spaces every 200-300m throughout the site to cater to the growing calls for more open green space;

A car parking block with 637 car spaces and 104 residential units on top;

Creating a martime museum and a permanent berth for the tall ship Alma Doepel;

Providing a boating hub for community organisations including the Docklands Yacht Club and local dragon boats;

Sewer mining, blackwater recycling and precinct-wide waste recycling;

A low foot bridge linking Victoria Harbour and NewQuay;

It has set aside a location for a commercial boating marina; and

Approval has been granted for a 14000 sqm hotel, to be located on the dock near the corner of Collins and Bourke streets.  

Lend Lease global head of development David Hutton said: “Lend Lease secured the rights to develop Victoria Harbour in May 2001 and the precinct is now approximately 42 per cent complete.”

“Lend Lease has taken the opportunity to draw on the lessons learned over the last nine years to update and further improve our plans for the next stages.”

“Victoria Harbour has already set a benchmark in urban development, having the highest concentration of green buildings in Australia and, with the further proposed refinements, we aim to establish new standards in sustainable urban design and in the quality of the streets, parks, buildings, public transport and waterfront.”

New Victoria Harbour residential developments Convesso and Serrata are both on their way to achieving green star ratings.

For more information see http://www.lendlease.com/victoriaharbour