Council to scrap design competition in favour of fast-tracked Red Stairs renewal

The City of Melbourne is set to abandon its much-publicised design competition for the Red Stairs at Queensbridge Square, opting instead for an internally delivered renewal aimed at addressing safety and maintenance concerns more quickly.

A report to the March 3 Future Melbourne Committee recommends councillors reverse their August 13, 2024, decision to pursue a design competition and instead approve a draft concept plan for the site.

Commissioned in 2005 as part of the Sandridge Precinct Renewal project ahead of the 2006 Commonwealth Games, the Red Stairs were designed as a temporary installation to activate Queensbridge Square and disguise the entrance to Crown Casino’s underground car park.

Two decades on, council officers say the structure has reached the end of its asset life and is facing increasing maintenance costs. Community feedback gathered between 2022 and 2024 highlighted strong support for replacing the stairs due to concerns about safety, cleanliness and dilapidation.

Site investigations undertaken since last year’s endorsement of a design competition have also revealed significant constraints. These include the structure’s location atop the Crown Casino car park entrance and the presence of essential services and electrical infrastructure within and around the site. Officers argue that these constraints would limit the scope of any major redesign and potentially prolong delivery.

Under the revised approach, the project would be delivered internally as a capital works program, with a draft concept developed in response to the site’s limitations.

The proposed concept focuses on improving safety, durability and greening, while retaining much of the existing structure. Key elements include removing the enclosed “top room” and replacing it with a viewing platform to reduce visual bulk and improve sightlines. Officers say this would eliminate concealment spaces, enhance wayfinding and perceptions of safety, and add around 45 square metres of publicly accessible space to Queensbridge Square.

The stairs would be reclad with higher-quality, lower-maintenance materials, aligning with the underlying structural lifespan of at least another 15 years. Around 40 sqms of hardscape would also be replaced with landscaping, including two new trees and garden beds, in line with the city’s greening objectives.

The preliminary high-level cost for the renewal is estimated at $1.73 million. The report notes that $230,000 has been allocated in 2025/26, with further funding required across subsequent financial years for delivery.

Officers recommend proceeding with the draft concept in the short to medium term, with a broader reassessment of the Queensbridge Square precinct to occur later.

The proposal aligns with the Open Space Strategy Light Touch Review 2024, which identified renewal of the square as a high priority to better cater for events, community use and urban greening.

If endorsed, the decision will mark a notable shift away from what was promoted as the city’s first design competition under newly adopted guidelines. Management has flagged the need for a considered communications approach, given the earlier public announcement of the competition and interest from prospective design applicants.

Councillors will debate the recommendation on March 3, with the aim of fast-tracking improvements to one of Southbank’s most prominent – and contested – public spaces.