Local News: YRBA

The Flinders Street Station redevelopment competition has closed and the winners have been announced.

Perhaps you took the time to view the six finalists’ work displayed on the station forecourt or online?

We were particularly interested in the competition because any development of the station will have a major impact on the future operation of the river.

Some of the designs were undoubtedly grandiose dreams and it was remarked that a couple of them looked more suitable for Dubai. I think that everyone would agree that the chosen design needs to retain the beauty and integrity of the magnificent 1890s edifice.

A couple of the designs grasped the potential for integrating the station with the river. They incorporate major berthing facilities for river boats, cascading tiers from the station to the water’s edge, great integration of Flinders and Elizabeth streets with the river, and even a roof-top garden to help break-up the concrete and asphalt of the inner city. It’s

encouraging to see one of the station designs recognise this huge potential for multi-modal public transport.

For more than a decade the Yarra River Business Association (YRBA) has been strongly advocating for a major improvement to the shameful pedestrian underpass between Elizabeth St and Northbank, as well as for a suitable use for the beautiful and historic Banana Alley Vaults.

The Premier’s design competition for the station precinct eventually embraced both those elements (thanks largely to the intervention of Lord Mayor Robert Doyle) and we are hoping that, at the very least, we’ll see major improvement to the amenity of the underpass.

It has required constant lobbying to even get the white tiles of the walkway steam cleaned. Previously the Department of Transport had said that the heritage value of the tiles meant that they couldn’t be adequately cleaned. It was only when Transport Minister Terry Mulder inspected the facility soon after the last state election and declared the subway as a putrid and unsafe entrance to Southbank, that the department acted, and there was a slight improvement to the appearance.

However, before we get too excited, as reported earlier in the paper, the competition is only a competition. No government commitment has been made to upgrading Flinders Street Station, let alone any money.

Remember that it took more than 50 years of design competitions for a Melbourne landmark before Jeff Kennett bit the bullet and commissioned Federation Square. Love it or hate it, Fed Square is an internationally-recognised piece of architecture and, in its short 10 years, it has created a new heart and meeting place for Melburnians.

It cost $470 million - $350 million more than estimated – but it has been a huge legacy project, which will be enjoyed by Victorians and visitors for the next century. Amortised over 100 years it will represent very good value.

So, Dr Napthine, please view the Flinders Street Station project in terms of what it could do to enhance the liveability of Melbourne during the next century.

While on the subject of legacy projects and Federation Square, Fed Square’s long-serving CEO, Kate Brennan, steps down from the role next month after eight years.

Our precinct will be the poorer for losing someone with such vision, enthusiasm and commitment to the community. Maybe Kate could head-up a new authority to oversee the visionary redevelopment of Flinders Street Station!