Ferrars St vision

Port Phillip Council has proposed a $40 million investment into the early delivery of community facilities for Fishermans Bend at Ferrars St in Southbank.

The plan will deliver integrated community facilities including a kindergarten, streetscape infrastructure, two multi-use netball courts and public open space, in an effort to fast track the development of the Montague Precinct.

The plan will include a “one-stop-drop-off” early learning hub as part of the new vertical South Melbourne Primary School at Ferrars St, which is due to open in January 2018.

With council to finance and deliver the project, the infrastructure is in advance of a finalised developer contribution plan. Mayor Amanda Stevens described this as unique.

“This proposal is based on some of the best models around the world for integrating community facilities into an inner city multi-story school,” she said.

“It will allow council and the State Government to maximise the potential uses offered by this substantial range of facilities and result in substantial savings by not having to provide stand-alone infrastructure down the track.”

Cr Stevens said council would also deliver a “safe and attractive” streetscape and a park within the Montague Precinct to set the tone for the development of Australia’s biggest urban renewal project.

With the proposal now before the State Government, Education Minister James Merlino said the Government was working closely with council to shape a shared vision for the new primary school.

“It is fantastic to see Port Phillip Council taking this important step and we look forward to working through the details of the council’s proposals,” he said.

“The Victorian Government has committed to making Victoria the education state. Central to this is ensuring that families have access to high-quality schools, especially in areas with growing populations.”  

Port Phillip Council’s proposal is based on a strategic business case, which was adopted at its council meeting on July 28.

The case sets out the early investment rationale and involves a mixture of council rates and borrowings as well as State Government funding and future developer contributions.

The news follows Member for Albert Park Martin Foley and Planning Minister Richard Wynne’s visit to the Ferrars St site as part of the announcement of the new Fishermans Bend Ministerial Advisory Committee.

Mr Foley reaffirmed the Government’s pledge of delivering both South Melbourne Primary and South Melbourne Park Primary Schools by the beginning of 2018.