General Melbourne related banter

[Qantas743]

More NIMBY shit from The Age :

Doyle backs bold city expansion plans


http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/do...217-1tcuj.html

A vision to massively expand the central business district and encourage high-rise towers from Carlton to the Shrine is not a free kick for developers, according to the Baillieu government.
Announcing the 20 to 50 year ‘‘bold vision for expanded Melbourne CBD’’, Planning Minister Matthew Guy denied the plan to expand the capital city zone out from the Hoddle Grid to Fishermans Bend, St Kilda Road and towards Melbourne University was a big win for developers.
‘‘Anyone would know that a capital city zone is anything but a developers' picnic — quite to the contrary,’’ Mr Guy said as he launched the plan from the 57th storey of the Rialto Tower.
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‘‘What we are trying to do is accommodate population... actually get density in the city core, actually looking at growing the city core, not just in a small area for people to reside but a larger area for people to reside,’’ he said.
‘‘Melbourne just has to think long-term, we are asking people to think long-term,’’ he said.
Mr Guy’s vision was emphatically backed by Lord Mayor Robert Doyle — who could face voters this year if he decides to run again in the October elections.
Cr Doyle described the proposed planning changes as "bold" and "visionary".
"I think it’s inspirational," Cr Doyle told ABC 774.
Cr Doyle said the move acknowledged the city was the economic and cultural heart of Melbourne that was no longer defined by the traditional Hoddle Grid, which is bound by Flinders Street and Queen Victoria market and Spencer and Spring streets.‘‘Fishermans Bend is going to change our city the same way Docklands has," he said.
Fishermans Bend is expected to house tens of thousands of people when the industrial area is transformed into a new residential area.Cr Doyle said considered planning would be needed to ensure Melbourne did not become a ‘‘tower jungle’’.
But not everyone at Melbourne City Council was as excited about the announcement as the lord mayor.
Councillor Jackie Watts said she had not even been told about the plan.
‘‘I am not pleased that the only conduit the council has to the planning minister is through the lord mayor,’’ she said.
‘‘We (councillors) should have been consulted before any of this was released,’’ she said.
Across the CBD residents in existing residential towers are concerned about new developments blocking out sunlight and views.
Docklands Community Association president Rodger Gardner said the city was already lacking open spaces and residents were not being consulted about developments.
"It looks like tombstone territory," he said of the Docklands.
He said he feared that developers’ interests were being pandered to while the views of residents were ignored.
"The developers have done what they like in Docklands," Mr Gardner told ABC radio.

[Melb_SuperTall]

Wouldn't this help protect the heritage buildings in the CBD more by saying hey why develop there when you could develop here, here and here...? and there was people saying on the herald sun saying "Melbourne does not have wide streets like NY etc" so why not build wide streets as part of this plan? or is that not possible.. and people where yacking on about how it is losing its "Charm" im pretty sure it has vibe not charm since it is Melbourne city of 4 million and not Emmerdale.

[tayser]

The idea of an eventual rail line from Newport under the Yarra to Fisherman's bend, under the Yarra again and up through the "old" CBD through Fitzroy to Clifton Hill just gets better and better.

[tower_dan]

Originally Posted by Melb_SuperTall

Wouldn't this help protect the heritage buildings in the CBD more by saying hey why develop there when you could develop here, here and here...? and there was people saying on the herald sun saying "Melbourne does not have wide streets like NY etc" so why not build wide streets as part of this plan? or is that not possible.. and people where yacking on about how it is losing its "Charm" im pretty sure it has vibe not charm since it is Melbourne city of 4 million and not Emmerdale.

and if these idiots knew anything, melburen DOES have wide streets, thats why we have the most comprensive tram network in teh world!

when cars were out of reach trams were a major part of many large cities transport network. once cars became affordable to average joe and people took to the roads in droves most cities could not keep up with trams and cars sharing CBD streets (take a look at some of melbourne outter tram network traffic sewers) and the trams were ripped out.

Melbouren had a well planned grid system from its inception and becasue of that we still have otu trams AND cars in teh CBD with little disruption to traffic (except peak hr which is unavoidable when trying to move 100,000+ people in a few hrs)

this new proposal only has to make propper allowances in the early (cheap) stages, ie cut and cover subway rather then tunnel boring, wide streets with freeway connections and access, set areas for parkland, regualtions for street level activation (lessons learned from southbank and dockalnds) etc and the plan will actually work out well.

and whats with the constant "lack of parkland" argument people throw around... there are enormous swathes of parkland in every part of the currrent city, and why wouldnt they include new parkland in the proposal ala birrarung marr???

[Urbicus]

Saw this on Sky News, a very interesting proposal that certainly seems to set out a solid vision for the future. Seeing as it it's a "20-50 year plan", I suppose it's just that.

Very surprised by the comments made by an opposition spokesperson claiming your Government is trying to turn Melbourne into "the skyscraper capital of the world". For a moment I though it was someone from Perth. NIMBYs are NIMBYs, I suppose.

[DrDan]

funny that the Docklands has formed a residents 'anti development' group. Surely if you buy a place in the Docklands you'd expect development and a lack of open space?

[ooh]

Originally Posted by Urbicus

Very surprised by the comments made by an opposition spokesperson claiming your Government is trying to turn Melbourne into "the skyscraper capital of the world". For a moment I though it was someone from Perth. NIMBYs are NIMBYs, I suppose.

Absolutely, Nimbys will always be Nimbys.

The only person that would make a comment like this is someone who has never left Australia. How Melbourne could ever be the skyscraper capital of the world, taking over NYC, Chicago, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore is an absolute and utter joke.

Worst nimby comment I have ever heard. Period.

[Aussie Steve]

Is there anything on an official government website yet?

[John_Proctor]

nothing yet but the Age reported the 'official announcement' from level 57 of the Rialto...

check Premier.vic.gov.au tomorrow as he seems to be the only one that releases press releases and they are still only have yesterdays up there ATM.



the thing about this being a 20-50 year plan really comes back to the Transport links as well.

eg. in about 15 years time you'd expect the Melbourne Metro to be built with 5 news inner city stations (particularly Parkville, Arden, Domain)...

then from year 15-30 Doncaster might be built with 5 new CBD stations (eg. Fitzroy North, Parkville, West Melbourne, Southern Cross, Fishermans Bend)

then in years 30-50 there might be another tunnel built - eg. a connection of St Kilda light rail to the Upfield Line with stations at St Kilda, Crown, Flagstaff, Royal Childrens, etc)

throw in a complete overhaul of the way the tram network is operated (ie. actual priority and dedicated lanes) and you could really increase PT capacity in the inner burbs.

if you think about a 50 year timeframe their is genuine scope to provide the capacity needed for this sort of grwoth.

[Grollo]

I am just speechless after reading this:

If the plan comes to fruition, the city's tallest buildings would be built at Fishermans Bend or north of the Docklands.

The CBD's boundaries would be redrawn to allow skyscrapers from Carlton to Fishermans Bend, from Docklands to the Domain.

Mr Guy revealed the concept to the Herald Sun yesterday, saying it could be achieved through a new Capital City Zone, which would abolish height restrictions.

"I think it could lead to the centre of Melbourne becoming one of the truly great high-density population areas for Western cities anywhere in the world," he said.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news...#ixzz1mbzaMOKy

[ooh]

I'm angry and speechless by this: -

"There will be traffic gridlock, people will struggle to get into Melbourne, all because this minister wants to ram through his vision to turn Melbourne into the skyscraper of the world."

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news...#ixzz1mcHRQ1VG

WHY do people seem to think that this decision is going to make Melbourne bigger than Dubai, Hong Kong, NYC, Chicago?!!

[melburn21]

10 news had a concept image...

[redbaron_012]

Why are so called intelligent people complete morons.....if this includes you reading this I am not sorry because if your a moron you just are OK ! If your not keep reading. Anyway...........Melbourne is not complete! it will continue to grow and if anyone back in 1950...then 1960.....then 1970.....then 1980 ( are you getting my drift ? ) saw Melbourne today they would be shocked! Why not make a plan or area where Melbourne will grow in the future without dragging out the NIMBY front mat.......I 100 % support this initiative...It will never be exactly as stated today....but knowing Melbourne will grow and grow with some planning and control must be a plus. Look at the big picture....this is not the place for a village anymore.....but look after the treasures and go for it where you can !

[redbaron_012]

On second thought......the NIMBY's are right...........lets not build anything on this area.....just level Williamstown and build 100 super scrapers over there....awesome !

[MelbourneOnTheRise]

from the premier's website
http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/media-...ourne-cbd.html

Bold vision for expanded Melbourne CBD

Friday, 17 February 2012

From the Minister for Planning
A bold new vision for Melbourne's central business district could see an expansion of high density living beyond the Hoddle Grid, Docklands and Southbank.

Major opportunities would be made available in Fishermans Bend and E-Gate on its western edge, St Kilda Rd in the south, and towards Melbourne University on the northern side.

Planning Minister Matthew Guy announced the proposal for an expanded capital city zone today.

"We want to hear Melburnians' views about where high density housing is best located," Mr Guy said.

"Many people are concerned about high rise towers dominating quiet suburban streets, so we need to ask if high rise should be primarily concentrated in the inner city to take growth pressure off Melbourne's existing suburbs, while also capitalising on existing infrastructure."

Mr Guy stressed this was a long-term vision that needed bipartisan support and was a prelude to consultation on the the new Metropolitan Strategy which would be taking place over the course of the year.

"It is important to realise this is a 20 to 50 year vision – it will not happen overnight, but we need to provide leadership and opportunities," Mr Guy said.

"Melbourne's Hoddle grid was designed in 1837 when Melbourne's population was only a few thousand. With a population of four million and growing, we need to have a vision for the central city that matches our growth. We know we cannot only expand in the outer suburbs, but need to also extend the beating heart of the city.

"Melbourne's CBD only had a few hundred residents in 1990. Today, over 30,000 people call the CBD, Southbank and Docklands home. We need to continue the discussion about how to provide inner city living opportunities for those who desire it.

"This proposal could cement Melbourne as the best CBD for growth and investment opportunity in Australia. Maintaining our advantage is vital for retaining important construction jobs, as well as an affordable city for residents and businesses.

"It doesn't mean we will have Rialto-size buildings in every part of it, but what you will have is greater density and greater height throughout an expanded CBD.

"Concentrating high rise, high density growth takes development pressure off existing suburbs and can maintain liveability in existing residential areas while providing a large, vibrant heart to a growing central city area," Mr Guy said.

All of the areas proposed are within walking distance of the Hoddle grid.

[redbaron_012]

"We want to hear Melburnians' views about where high density housing is best located," Mr Guy said.

Don't let the NIMBY's be the only voice!

[Grollo]

The new CBD:

[tayser]

That needs mass-transit (underground heavy rail) on a large scale for this to work. Newport through to the North-East needs to come sooner rather than later - trams and buses will not cut it for getting from Fisherman's bend all the way through to Parliament.

exciting times.

[Grollo]

Strange that it includes the Albert Road precinct where the planning minister introduced a 60m hieght limit.

[tayser]

I hate to add to the Manhattan cliches, BUT:



taking a leaf out of that island's book, there's a big opportunity to put the pressure on the nay-sayers by opening up a large swath of that area for open / park area. Excuse the 1 minute GIMP (only just started using it!) job, but it also illustrates the type of cross-rail that would be required to support very high-density in that corridor.