Fishermans Bend vision becoming clearer: consultation now open

Fishermans Bend vision becoming clearer: consultation now open
Alastair TaylorMay 27, 2016

The vision for Australia's largest urban renewal project, Fishermans Bend, is one step closer to being formalised with the release of a paper to be used for community consultation.

In the latest public release of information on the project which is likely to be under construction all the way through to the mid-point of this century, the vision for the individual neighbourhood precincts is clearer.

Overall, the headline figures are roughly the same: the residential population of 80,000 by 2050 remains intact however the number of jobs projected to be in the precinct has been bumped up to 60,000.

In a sign of the times, Fishermans Bend now has its own (soon-to-be-official, no doubt) Twitter account run by government communications representatives: @Fishermans_Bend

All the familiar names are still there: Montague, Sandridge, Lorimer, Wirraway and thanks to the enlargement of the entire urban renewal area not long after the Andrews Government came to power, the 'new employment precinct'.

Quoting from a media release distributed on Friday afternoon, the employment precinct - depicted in the lead image - "will be designed to attract international investment and will become a destination for emerging technologies, specialised labs and education spaces".

Montague will have "taller buildings, taking advantage of transport links, with laneways and renovated older buildings. Buckhurst street will be tree-lined and will become a retail and dining destination"

Fishermans Bend vision becoming clearer: consultation now open
Sketch of Montague. Image © DELWP

Lorimer precinct "will have lower-scale development and be home to small businesses, with social infrastructure such as childcare centres and libraries, and will connect Fishermans Bend to the city with walking and cycling trails and public transport".

Fishermans Bend vision becoming clearer: consultation now open
Sketch of Lorimer. Image © DELWP

Sandridge "will have lots of open space and a mix of residential development, office space and commercial uses"

Fishermans Bend vision becoming clearer: consultation now open
Sketch of Sandridge. Image © DELWP

Wirraway "will be designed for families, with leafy streets and a range of housing types, with good access to the bay and Westgate park".

Fishermans Bend vision becoming clearer: consultation now open
Sketch of Wirraway. Image © DELWP

A more detailed vision for each neighbourhood precinct is contained within the "vision recast" document on the fishermansbend.vic.gov.au website. Feedback submissions close on the 1st of July.

Alastair Taylor

Alastair Taylor is a co-founder of Urban.com.au. Now a freelance writer, Alastair focuses on the intersection of public transport, public policy and related impacts on medium and high-density development.

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