Precinct Plan Engagement

From plan to place: shaping the future of Fishermans Bend’s precincts

Released in late 2018, the Fishermans Bend Framework detailed the long-term strategic plan for the development of Australia’s largest urban renewal project. 

One of the next stages of the project is the implementation planning for the future development of Fishermans Bend’s four ‘mixed use’ precincts. Delivered in partnership between the Victorian Government’s Fishermans Bend Taskforce and the City of Port Phillip and the City of Melbourne, this work will be guided by community insights and ideas around the emerging needs, as well as any issues and opportunities associated with transition of the Montague, Sandridge, Wirraway and Lorimer precincts.

During May and June, we are seeking your contributions to guide the development of these individual precinct implementation plans, which will capture the distinct character of each precinct, and start to tell the emerging ‘place story’ of these exciting new places to live, work and visit.

We are seeking contributions through Engage Victoria or at events held during May and early June.

Tuesday 14 May​, 5:30pm - 7:30pm, City of Port Phillip's Fishermans Bend Community Forum, featuring presentation, Q&A and engagement activities. Due to building security requirements, all attendees are required to register in advance.

Thursday 16 May, 5:00pm - 6:45pm, (in association with Place Week Vic 2019). Walking Tour through Montague precinct.  Places are strictly limited.

Thursday 16 May, 7:00pm - 9:00pm, (in association with Place Week Vic 2019). Place-making workshop. Ferrars Street Education and Community Facility, 129 Ferrars Street, Southbank. RSVP are required.

Saturday 1 June, 1.00pm - 4:00pm. Community drop-in session, featuring presentation, Q&A and engagement activities. Presentation 1.30pm. No RSVP necessary. Ferrars Street Education and Community Facility, 129 Ferrars Street, Southbank. 

Wednesday 5 June, 2.30pm - 7.30pm. Community drop-in session, featuring presentation, Q&A and engagement activities. Presentations at 3pm and 6pm. No RSVP necessary.
North Port Oval Sandridge Room, 525 Williamstown Road
Port Melbourne (entry off Ingles Street)

Through the engagement process, we’ll be focusing on each of the four precinct's and asking:

• The Framework details new open spaces, infrastructure, improved streets and community facilities for each precinct. With this in mind, which new services, amenities and features do you see as being most important to be delivered early?
• As the precincts change, what local insights can you provide us around any emerging challenges?
• What opportunities are worth exploring in the short term to encourage a sense of community and place, e.g. events and activities?
• What important characteristics, stories or ideas can you tell us about that would help us plan to make this precinct become its own distinctive neighbourhood?

The Fishermans Bend Business Forum

Incorporated in early 2018, the independent Fishermans Bend Business Forum (FBBF) was developed to be a voice for business in Fishermans Bend and represent the broader business community during the planning and implementation of Australia’s largest urban renewal project.

Richard Black is the President of the FBBF and the Director, People and Safety and Design Consultant at CIA Services Group. On the eve of the Forum’s next major event on the 16th of May, we spoke with Richard about the FBBF and their hopes for Fishermans Bend.

Visit our website to read the interview with Richard, where he tells us the origins of the FBBF, its approach to industry collaboration and what the biggest opportunities might be in the ‘Bend.

Innovation precincts and Fishermans Bend

The Fishermans Bend Employment Precinct presents the unique opportunity to create 21st century jobs centred on innovation, entrepreneurship and design excellence in manufacturing.

The Employment Precinct sits at the north-western end of the broader Fishermans Bend urban renewal area, south of the Yarra River and between the Westgate and Bolte bridges. At more than 230 hectares, it is the largest of Fishermans Bend’s five precincts. Unlike the mixed-use precincts of Lorimer, Montague, Sandridge and Wirraway, the Employment Precinct was not rezoned in 2012 and has retained its mix of industrial and commercial zoning.

Already home to world-leading advanced manufacturers including Boeing, General Motors Holden (GMH) and Siemens, the vision for the Employment Precinct is to host 40,000 jobs and be Australia’s premier location for innovators and an internationally renowned centre of innovation in design and manufacturing.

The commitment by the University of Melbourne to develop a custom-built School of Engineering campus within the Employment Precinct presents the opportunity to turbocharge innovation and collaboration by co-locating world-leading engineering and design research alongside start-ups, scale-ups, investors and world-leading industry partners.

Led by the Fishermans Bend Taskforce, planning is underway to draw from and build on the precinct’s proud legacy. Working with industry and institutional partners, our collaborative approach aims to unlock the next wave of economic growth to realise an innovation precinct of truly global scale.

Over the coming months, we’ll be profiling the precincts’ existing world-leading industry partners, showcasing their research and development strengths.  In the meantime, the Fishermans Bend Taskforce’s Bryn Davies, who is involved in the planning for the Employment Precinct, has shared some of the knowledge around what makes a successful innovation precinct.  Visit our website to read these insights.

Walking round the ‘bend

Late last month, Fishermans Bend Development Board member and local guide Janet Bolitho hosted two walking tours of Fishermans Bend, exploring issues of change, heritage and connectivity in an area of rapid urban renewal.

The first was part of Melbourne Design Week in partnership with Open House Melbourne’s Waterfront Programme. A group of 20 intrepid walkers explored the Sandridge and Lorimer Precincts.

Starting at North Port tram stop, walkers headed towards the Yarra River. Current poor conditions for walking and cycling were experienced and the 80:20 active transport target imagined. On a hot afternoon, people were relieved to reach the River and enjoy Point Park.

The second group included 40 University of Melbourne Environmental Policy and Planning students on a field trip through the Wirraway and Employment Precincts studying nature based infrastructure solutions in cities. The cooling effect of trees was appreciated on a hot day and the importance of FB’s tree canopy targets reinforced. The group stopped in at Biofilta and Australian Ecosystems, an urban farm venture that has yielded 250 kilograms of fresh produce from two carparks in five months, showcasing an example of some of the amazing innovations already occurring in Fishermans Bend.

Janet will be hosting another sold-out walking tour of the ‘bend in conjunction with our upcoming engagement process and the University of Melbourne’s Place Week program. “The changing face of Fishermans Bend: a walk through a Montague precinct” will set off on the evening of Thursday 16 May.

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