Melbourne is booming – you must have noticed the construction zones, the busy trams and the non-stop festival calendar - so where are we heading and what will Melbourne look like in 2025? Where will we live, play, shop, work and relax?
SOARING BUILDINGS
Melbourne has a large number of surprisingly tall edifices due by 2020 and beyond. 'Australia 108' will be 101 stories. This is about 20 metres taller than the current Eureka Tower, in fact, it will be the tallest building in Melbourne at a lofty 318 metres high. 'Aurora Melbourne Central' is not far behind at 88 stories and will be a residential tower. 'Premier Tower' will also be ready by 2020 with 78 floors and will be on par with Rialto Towers, which won't even be in the Top 5 anymore.
Watch the Melbourne skyline soar. Credits: Luke c at English Wikipedia,https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eureka_Tower_LC.JPG
To deal with our expanding city, the Victorian Government will rezone 100,000 housing blocks to create 17 new suburbs in Melbourne's key growth zones. In the west of Melbourne, there will be Quandong, Tarneit Plains and more. North-west of Melbourne will be Lancefield and Sunbury (and Sunbury South). Directly north will be Lindum Vale, Beveridge North (and Central), Donnybrook and the grungy sounding Northern Quarries and others. To the south-east, Pakenham gets an East side and then there's McPherson and the quaint-sounding Minta Farm.
A 205-hectare employment precinct at Fishermans Bend will also include housing for 80,000 people. The new developments need to include green spaces and Westgate Park is a perfect candidate for rejuvenation. Residents in the new neighbouring suburbs of Lorimer, Wirraway, Sandridge and the posh-sounding Montague, will reap the benefits of new walking trails and facilities.
A growing population also means more children and land has been purchased to build new schools in Clyde North, Cranbourne West, Mickleham, Deanside, Rockbank and other locations on the outskirts of Melbourne.
TRANSPORT IMPROVEMENTS
The $10.9 billion Metro Tunnel will create end-to-end rail from Sunbury in the west, to Cranbourne and Pakenham in the south-east with five new underground stations. These will be called North Melbourne, Parkville, State Library, Town Hall and Anzac.
The Clayton campus of Monash University and Chadstone shopping centre are also set to be connected, with a new tram route linking Caulfield Station to Rowville via Waverley Park.
The good news is that the federal government has finally pledged $5 billion to help build the rail link from Melbourne Airport to the CBD, but with the need for the State to cough up another $5 billion, so we'll see.
There are a range of initiatives to ease transport congestion. Credits: Own work transferred from en.wikipedia,https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bombadier_train_melbourne.jpg
If you've been stuck on the West Gate Bridge, you'll know how frustrating it can be. The $5.5 billion Western Distributor Project will offer a well-needed alternate crossing for motorists.
To keep cyclists happy, the West Gate Tunnel project will include a two and a half kilometre cycling path above Footscray Road by 2020, with the aim of connecting all sections between the city and Werribee.
WORLD-CLASS SPORTING EVENTS
For the golfing fans out there, Royal Melbourne will host the Presidents Cup in 2019, and then the Australian Open is locked in for at least 2020 and 2022.
Melbourne Park will also undergo a several million dollar transformation project to ensure it remains the home of Australian tennis.
EVEN MORE SHOPPING
The Queen Victoria Market is earmarked as part of a $250 million development of the northern part of the CBD over the next five years. The carpark will be a new public space and there are plans for a gallery, hotel, community centre, shopping, and other facilities on the sight.
Federation Square will include a new soaring Apple Store. This store will be powered entirely by renewable energy and create over 200 new positions and several hundred short-term construction contracts.
ARTS AND CULTURE
The State Library Victoria will be transformed with a $60 million State Government investment to open up a further 40 percent of the iconic building to families, visitors and researchers.
The former Collingwood Technical School site in inner city Melbourne is also destined to become a contemporary creative precinct and will be a place for a range of art-related businesses and endeavours.
BEACHES AND PARKS
St Kilda Pier is in need of re-design and Parks Victoria has been asked by the State Government to make some suggestions. So far it's down to either a long straight walk out to sea or a pier that will gracefully curve within the groyne.
Iconic St Kilda Pier needs some renovation. Credits: Stefano at wikivoyage,https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:StKilda-Pier.jpg/media/File:StKilda-Pier.jpg
A bit further inland, a park that includes gardens, water features, and a space for community events will open behind Chapel Street by 2020 in the current Cato Street carpark area.
Finally, the site of the Grand Prix and aggressive swans, Albert Park, is set to be redeveloped with more sports grounds, further walking trails and even a wetlands bridge over the lake, with exact timelines to be confirmed.
This article referenced the following sources:
skyscraperpage.com/cities
www.planning.vic.gov.au/policy-and-strategy/activity-centres
www.vic.gov.au/affordablehousing/housing-supply-and-planning/land-supply.html
www.schoolbuildings.vic.gov.au/pages/home.aspx
metrotunnel.vic.gov.au
www.premier.vic.gov.au/the-presidents-cup-is-on-its-way-back-to-victoria
www.sbs.com.au/news/australian-open-to-return-to-melbourne
www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/building-and-development/urban-planning/local-area-planning/queen-victoria-market-precinct-renewal-plan/Pages/queen-victoria-market-precinct-renewal-plan.aspx
www.majorprojects.vic.gov.au
