Renewed calls for public transport to be accelerated to Fishermans Bend

Infrastructure Victoria has called for the state government to start building tram routes to Fishermans Bend by 2030, while urging it to “start preparing now” for the Melbourne Metro 2 train project.

The state’s independent infrastructure advisory body released “Victoria’s draft 30-year infrastructure strategy 2025-2055” last month for community consultation, which remains open until April 28 via Engage Victoria.

Melbourne Metro 2, which proposes a new underground train tunnel from Clifton Hill to Newport via Docklands and Fishermans Bend, is one of several projects Infrastructure Victoria has called on the government to start planning for now.

In June last year, the state government announced its preferred route for the train tunnel, which included a new station in the heart of Docklands on Bourke St, as well as two new stations in Fishermans Bend. However, Yarra’s Edge residents are also urging the government to include a new station in its neighbourhood for the growing Lorimer precinct.

While acknowledging that Metro 2 is a longer-term project, the strategy implores the government to get on with delivering two critical tram connections to Fishermans Bend; one from Anzac Station to Fishermans Bend North, and the other from Southern Cross Station to Fishermans Bend South.

Infrastructure Victoria says its research forecasts tram services to the precinct will reach capacity by the mid-2030s, and that planning for Metro 2 now was essential.

“To achieve the 80,000 jobs and 80,000 residents anticipated for the precinct, Fishermans Bend will need a new train line. The Melbourne Metro 2 project provides this,” its strategy states.

It estimated the costs to deliver both tram routes over five years between $1 billion and $1.4 billion and noted that the state government could also seek additional funding from the federal government.

While the state government has previously mooted building a controversial tram bridge through Yarra’s Edge between Collins and Hartley streets, Infrastructure Victoria has instead proposed an extension to route 11 that would see the Fishermans Bend South route divert from Collins St along Spencer St to eventually connect with Plummer St in Port Melbourne. •