Mirvac’s final Yarra’s Edge tower wins unanimous backing from councillors

Developer Mirvac’s final tower at Yarra’s Edge has moved a major step closer to reality after City of Melbourne councillors unanimously endorsed the $200 million proposal at the November 11 Future Melbourne Committee meeting.

The project, which now goes to the Minister for Planning for determination, represents the culmination of more than two decades of development at the Docklands precinct, completing the last major site within the Bolte Precinct along Lorimer St.

Town planner Jay Hollerich, representing Mirvac, told councillors that the company was “excited to get to this last piece of the puzzle”.

Over 20 years, Yarra’s Edge has transformed from a post-industrial waterfront into a high-density peninsula of apartments, parks, and promenades, with this final tower marking the end of an era for one of Docklands’ most significant masterplanned neighbourhoods.

The application includes a 105-metre mixed-use tower containing 303 dwellings, 234 square metres of retail space, 376 car spaces and the final extension of South Wharf Drive.

As councillors examined the proposal, much of the discussion centred on the building’s bulk, architectural treatment, activation at street level and Mirvac’s major public art contribution.

Deputy Lord Mayor Cr Roshena Campbell acknowledged the significance of the development, but questioned the scale of the tower given its prominent waterfront location.

“This is quite a bulky structure,” she said. “Docklands is our beloved waterfront suburb. Has the applicant given any consideration, for example, to having two towers or finding other design solutions to reducing that bulk?”

Mr Hollerich responded that the site size simply did not allow for a two-tower arrangement but argued that the single-tower configuration sat comfortably within the emerging context.

“If you see the imagery, the width of the tower sits relatively comfortably with the other buildings approved in the precinct,” he said. “You’ve got significant building separations – exceeding 20 metres to the west and about 40 metres to the east – so there is still quite a lot of space between the forms.”

He added that Voyager, the neighbouring Mirvac tower to the east, was roughly 30 metres taller, while the permitted tower to the west was only one storey shorter.

Despite its size, councillors were impressed by the project’s ground-floor treatment, which includes three commercial tenancies, a residential lobby, bike rooms, wide footpaths and a publicly accessible forecourt.

Cr Campbell described these elements as critical to creating a more engaging pedestrian environment in Docklands.

A standout element of the design is the proposal for a large public art installation integrated into the podium façade facing Lorimer St and South Wharf Drive. Councillors described this as a striking opportunity to reinforce the precinct’s contemporary identity.

Mr Hollerich said Mirvac had worked closely with authorities to ensure the art strategy provided direction without constraining artistic freedom.

“We think there’s a decent opportunity to provide a large-scale installation,” he said, noting the possibility of digital art but emphasising a focus on themes reflecting the site’s history, both pre- and post-European settlement.

Cr Phil Le Liu encouraged Mirvac to seriously consider a digital installation, reflecting global trends.

“Where this is positioned at night time, I think this is something that can be very beautiful,” he said. “I’ve seen digital art across the world, and it can be a new attraction or drawcard to people down there.”

The project’s housing mix also drew praise, with Cr Rafael Camillo highlighting that 73 per cent of dwellings are two-bedroom, three-bedroom or larger. “That’s what I want to see more in the City of Melbourne,” he said.

Cr Le Liu also commented on the inclusion of 376 car parks, arguing it reflected ongoing shortcomings in public transport servicing Fishermans Bend.

“If there are no trams, what do you do? You have more car parks,” he said. “In a way, I do support that.”

Cr Campbell said the project “will complete the built form sequence along Lorimer St” and represents continuing confidence in development within Docklands.

“We have seen a really strong pipeline of development come before this committee tonight,” she said. “It is always pleasing to see continuing interest and confidence in development in Docklands.” •