Future of Fishermans Bend

20 April 2013

It’s been a hectic day of commentary on the future of Fishermans Bend. The morning began with Lord Mayor Robert Doyle’s making a claim for the City of Melbourne to manage the future planning of the area, according to an article in the Age 9/4/2013. The day ended with Premier Napthine dampening down the heated discussion and reassuring the City of Port Phillip that no decisions would be made until proper planning was in place for the Precinct. Local Government Minister Janette Powell weighed in, saying that further municipal boundary alignments were not on the cards.

Also on that day, Holden announced that 100 jobs are to go at Holden’s Port Melbourne product development facility.

Premier Napthine and Minister Guy have now both given assurances that no further decisions about Fishermans Bend will be made without proper structure planning in place. At the same time, there have been several reports that the role and function of Places Victoria is being drastically reduced. This is the sum total of information on Fishermans Bend on the Places Victoria website

On 2 July 2012, the Coalition Government announced it has rezoned 240 hectares to Capital City Zone to kick start the Fishermans Bend urban renewal area, which comprises four precincts – Lorimer, Montague, Sandridge and Wirraway. Places Victoria will play a key role in coordinating structure planning for the Fishermans Bend urban renewal area. (accessed 9 4 2013)

It does not inspire confidence.

While the government has energetically sought public contribution to Plan Melbourne, the future metropolitan planning strategy for Melbourne, there is no process in place to engage the public in the future of the Fishermans Bend Urban Renewal Area. In the Capital City Zone there is no requirement for third party notifications.

Minister Guy has made many public statements that he would ensure that Fishermans Bend would not be ‘another Docklands’.