History of Melbourne Docklands
Melbourne Docklands (Docklands) is a large urban renewal project and is one of Australia’s largest construction projects. It consists of land and water totalling 200 hectares, comparable to the Melbourne central business district (CBD).[1] The Docklands precinct became vacant once the containerisation of shipping became prominent, providing the opportunity for reshaping the urban landscape around Melbourne. The planning process and governance of the Docklands development have caused much debate, the development was largely influenced and affected by political interests, government’s financial position, and corporate interests.
1982-1992
The size of the Melbourne Docklands project meant that political influences were inescapable. The Docklands project was on top of the government’s agenda,[2] however, due to the poor condition of the wharf infrastructure, much investment was required to initiate the project which the government at the time could not afford. Nevertheless, the Docklands project stayed on the drawing board, but with little progress. In 1990, the Docklands Task Force was established to devise an infrastructure strategy and conduct the public consultation process.[2] The Committee for Melbourne, a lobby group representing corporate interests, was pursuing another planning strategy. It involved bids for the Melbourne Olympic Games and the Japanese Ministry of International Trade and Industry’s Multi-Function Polis (MFP), both bids fell through in late 1990.[2] Nevertheless, the Committee for Melbourne’s approach became the preferred model in the proceeding strategies for the Docklands development, leading to the formation of the Docklands Authority in July 1991.[2]
The Kennett Era
With a government running in budget deficits, not much progress was made on the Docklands project. In Late 1992, Jeff Kennett was elected Premier. Kennett instituted many changes and turned the government’s financial position around. He then embarked on a multitude of projects, which included Docklands. It was politically imperative to get the project rolling, the Docklands Authority opted for the concept of leaving all design and funding of infrastructure to the developers. The development industry supported this, and claimed that the project would be more efficient. May 1996 saw the relaunch of the tender process. Few restrictions were applied to the bids from developers, and as the vision was to make Docklands ‘Melbourne’s Millennium Mark’, the key criterion for a successful bid was to get projects going by 2000.[2] It did not take long for the realisation that the lack of government coordination in infrastructure planning would create problems. Developers would not invest into public infrastructure where benefits would flow on to an adjacent property. This was corrected by allowing developers to negotiate for infrastructure funding with the government. The Docklands Village precinct, was planned for a residential and commercial mixed development, in late 1996 that plan was scrapped when it was announced a private football stadium would be built on the site.[2] The site was chosen for its easy access to the then Spencer Street Station (Southern Cross railway station), as well as that, it would be an anchor for the entire project and provide for a clear signal to the long-awaited start of the Docklands project. However, this would create a huge barrier between the city and Docklands. During 1998 and 1999, with the exception of Yarra Waters (Yarra’s Edge) bid by Mirvac, bids for every other precinct fell through, the reasons are often unclear due to secrecy provisions.[2] The Kennett government at the same time was voted out.
1992-2010
The tone of the Docklands Authority changed, with the change of government, with key goals swinging towards facilitating integration of developments within Docklands, with adjacent areas, and sustaining design excellence and public amenity.[2] Docklands Stadium was complete in 2000, a milestone for the Docklands project. In 2003, the Docklands Authority merged with the Urban Land Authority to form VicUrban (now known as Places Victoria). 2003 also saw the inclusion of Docklands in the Melway street directory, and opening of access routes and several public spaces and buildings.