Open space projects in Lorimer key to Yarra’s Edge as Fishermans Bend takes shape

A trio of new parks proposed for the Lorimer Precinct in Fishermans Bend is set to reshape public amenity for residents living in Docklands’ Yarra’s Edge, as the state government edges closer to finalising its long-awaited infrastructure funding plan.

The three parks – Lorimer Central Park, Lorimer Neighbourhood Park and Hartley Street Park – form part of the open space network proposed under the draft Fishermans Bend Development Contributions Plan (FBDCP), which is now expected to be finalised following the recent support of a state-appointed planning advisory committee.

According to the government, the two mechanisms to be used to fund public infrastructure projects identified in the Fishermans Bend Framework are the FBDCP and an “open space uplift”, which “seeks to incentivise developers to provide land for public open space in exchange for additional development rights”.

While the Lorimer Precinct lies within the City of Melbourne, most of the current residential population surrounding the area lives on the opposite side of Lorimer St in Yarra’s Edge.

With much of Lorimer still dominated by industrial uses, Yarra’s Edge residents have long looked to the area opposite as the next chapter of Docklands’ evolution. Now, with the state government’s key advisory committee backing the open space strategy, the delivery of public parks is closer than ever – although uncertainty remains around public transport and key infrastructure.

Lorimer Central Park is proposed as a major green spine for the precinct, playing a vital role in connecting new residents to winter sunlight, cycling links, and neighbouring developments. Its location and layout were heavily contested through the advisory committee hearings, but the committee ultimately supported a return to the original configuration as shown in the Melbourne Planning Scheme, noting it offered the best design outcome in terms of solar access, connectivity and functionality.

Lorimer Neighbourhood Park and Turner Street Linear Park are similarly vital components of the precinct’s open space vision, and their final layouts also drew considerable scrutiny.

The advisory committee found the exhibited layout for Lorimer Neighbourhood Park risked severing the planned “Lorimer Parkway” – a key east-west green corridor linking open spaces across the precinct – and recommended the original design be retained. Turner St, the central spine of the precinct, will include a wide landscaped linear park adjacent to a future tram corridor, with the committee rejecting proposals to shrink it from 40 to 30 metres.

The Turner St corridor is also of particular interest to Yarra’s Edge, as it is central to the proposed route for a controversial new tram bridge over the Yarra River, which remains the preferred route as per the government’s Fishermans Bend Framework.

This is despite Infrastructure Victoria’s 30-year strategy instead proposing extensions to Fishermans Bend via routes 11 (via Spencer St Bridge) and 67 (via Park St).

The connection linking Collins and Hartley streets has long been flagged by the state government but remains unfunded – as does the proposed Metro 2 rail line, which would connect Fishermans Bend to the CBD via an underground station near Southern Cross.

As reported by Docklands News last year, Yarra’s Edge residents continue to call on the state government to include a new station in their precinct as part of Metro 2.

While the Lorimer parks are a welcome move toward providing liveable outcomes in the precinct, frustration remains that without committed public transport infrastructure, the precinct’s potential will not be fully realised.

The committee acknowledged that land for public transport projects such as the tram alignment through Lorimer Central had been included in the exhibited plans but ultimately determined this land should be identified separately in the planning scheme and not form part of the development contributions funding.

Complicating the open space delivery further, part of Hartley Street Park is now expected to accommodate a new drainage asset – the River Esplanade Pump Station –which will occupy up to 700 square metres of land. While the committee agreed to its inclusion off the back of a submission from Melbourne Water, the City of Melbourne expressed concern it would encroach on valuable public space and has sought commitments to ensure replacement open space is delivered elsewhere in Lorimer to offset the loss.

The long-promised Lorimer Art and Cultural Hub has also been recommended for inclusion in the funding plan – albeit with a focus on securing external funding for its construction. •