Urban Redevelopment: Docklands, Melbourne

Docklands 1871
Source: Destination Docklands 2012

The Victorian Planning Model was further explored this week, with the redevelopment of Docklands used as an example. Since the late 1880's the area served as a major port for the city of Melbourne, until the 1970's when it was left abandoned as a result of changes to cargo transportation methods.






It was underutilised until the 1990's, when the Dockland's Taskforce was directed to identify the best options for the development of the area. In 1991, the Docklands Authority Act was passed and the Dockland's authority established to help facilitate private development of the area.

Docklands 2010
Source: Trip Advisor 2010 

Currently VicUrban (Victorian Government's Sustainable Development Agency) is responsible for leading the development, which is being undertaken in partnership between the Government and private sector (PPP).


The importance of fostering relationships between these two sectors has been highlighted throughout this semester. Often the public sector has limited resources, so the implementation of proposed plans and projects poses a challenge, so partnerships with private companies increases the economic viability of developments.


The $12 billion waterfront development of Docklands provides an example of a suc cessful PPP that has benefited all stakeholders in the area, as the statistics below illustrate.




Source: VicUrban 2010



The development of Docklands corresponds nicely to the ideas expressed in the Melbourne @ 5 Million Report. In particular, the notion of creating multiple city centres to cater for population growth and "increasing levels of housing and employment in established areas close to where people reside, particularly where the tram network can support this level of change" (Department of Planning and Community Development 2008). Docklands fits these criteria with it's proximity to the CBD, existing integrated road network (linkage to main streets such as Collins and Bourke Street) as well as the location next to Southern Cross Station.  


As Australia's largest construction project, and a large urban renewal project by world standards, substantial community engagement was undertaken, lasting over 12 months. After reviewing the Docklands: The First Decade Report, it seems that the development has been successful in transforming the underutilised land into a mixed-use, vibrant community. It's likely that with continued development, the area will become an integral part of the city of Melbourne.