Boulevard project delayed

The completion of stage one of the transformation of Southbank Boulevard has been delayed until December 2019.

A spokesperson for the City of Melbourne told Southbank Local News that the original program of works had been revised because of delays caused by “site conditions”.

“The transformation of Southbank Boulevard will add 2.5 ha of public space to Melbourne’s most densely populated suburb,” the spokesperson said.

“Transforming Southbank Boulevard is a complex project that involves the delivery of a series of major infrastructure upgrades and a high level of co-ordination between numerous contractors and project partners.”

Southbank Local News understands that the delays are largely the result of poor co-ordination between a number of state government agencies, including VicRoads. The City of Melbourne’s former principal project manager Steve Perumal, who has led the project for many years, has also recently left council for a new role with the City of Port Phillip.

Road access from St Kilda Rd to Sturt St, which was scheduled to have been reopened by May, remains closed.

It is understood that the delays are also causing minor disruptions to the state government’s progress on the new National Gallery of Victoria Contemporary (NGVC) at the site currently occupied by the CUB Building.

A team was appointed in February to design the public space component of the project and this work is well underway, with timing for the existing building’s demolition to be determined once the planning and design phase is complete.

The Minister for Creative Industries and local member for Albert Park, Martin Foley, said while the delays were a hassle, they were far from fatal.

“This redevelopment will transform the Melbourne Arts Precinct, linking up our much loved cultural institutions and delivering new public space for the people of Southbank to enjoy,” he said.