“City Road 2.0”: Council’s Normanby Rd ambitions restricted by key stakeholders

The City of Melbourne has mooted its intention to progress with the Normanby Road Reserve expansion. However, the delivery of the proposed 1.2-hectare park remains in limbo due to the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) holding off on endorsing the project.

Reconfiguring vehicle lanes would provide the greatest opportunity to expand Normanby Road Reserve and create additional open space but for this to occur, advice from the DTP is required.

The DTP is currently choosing not to support the project, due to being unable to determine the impacts the West Gate Tunnel will have on Normanby Rd and the surrounding road network.

The tunnel is expected to open at the end of this year, but it is anticipated that the DTP will not provide advice on the project until mid-to-late 2026.

Despite this, at the Future Melbourne Committee (FMC) meeting on September 16, the council expressed its intent to proceed with community engagement over the next 12 months.

According to a council report tabled at the meeting, the timing of the DTP’s position is not compatible with the City of Melbourne’s priority to progress the project. However, the council’s decision to proceed with community engagement demonstrates its commitment to the expansion.

An expanded Normanby Road Reserve could provide up to 1.2 hectares of open space, incorporating lawn areas, garden beds, integrated water management, informal recreation, and spaces for community gathering.

However, what exactly it would look like remains unclear as DTP advice and support from neighboring landholders is needed to determine exactly how the reserve can be expanded.

Normanby Road Reserve is positioned amid land not owned or managed by the council, including land held by the DTP, VicTrack, Yarra Trams, the City of Port Phillip, the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, and private property.

Southbank Residents’ Association (SRA) president Tony Penna warned that, while he welcomes the proposed green space, the project risks becoming “City Road 2.0”.

According to Mr Penna, the sheer number of stakeholders involved puts the park’s expansion at risk of being stymied by disagreement among these parties.

The council has commenced engagement with key agency stakeholders to better understand the opportunities and constraints associated with expanding Normanby Road Reserve.

Despite the complexity, it’s a challenge the council is not shying away from.

Head of the environment portfolio, Cr Davydd Griffiths, said, “this is something that we know is very important to the residents and businesses down in Southbank, and I’m really looking forward to seeing some progress on this matter.”

He noted that, given Melbourne’s fast-growing population – particularly in Southbank – there was a clear need for more public open space.

City of Melbourne parks and city greening director, David Callow, said the project presented a great opportunity to engage with the community.

“We know the two existing parcels of land would benefit from improvement, regardless of whether or not we’re able to expand the park – so that’s our starting point,” Mr Callow said.

“There’s a history of us taking this kind of approach, working from a ‘blank canvas’ to shape public space in partnership with the community. We did something similar at Bedford Street Reserve, which was completed recently,” he said.

“Even without the final project area confirmed, we can still engage with the community about the kinds of activities and uses they would like to see in the space.”

The president of Residents3006, Dr David Hamilton, said the expansion would deliver much-needed additional open space, take pressure off the scarce resources available at the Boyd Community Hub and complement the Northern Undercroft which is expected to be home to a new green space in 2026.

“It is a complex project to bring to fruition but Council, and the State Government can deliver it,” he said.

He noted that unlike City Rd the traffic volumes are manageable and that he thinks Normanby Rd’s current four lanes are unnecessary. •