“Impoverished second cousins”: Southbank businesses call for action on Yarra-front

A Southbank business association has slammed Town Hall for its inaction on Southbank Promenade and has backed Arron Wood’s plans for a revitalised Queensbridge Square.

Yarra River Business Association Executive Officer Tim Bracher said, “the [Southbank] promenade has fallen so far behind the waterfront areas of our other capital cities it is embarrassing.”

“YRBA has recently undertaken study visits to Elizabeth Quay in Perth and Barangaroo in Sydney,” he said.

“We look like the impoverished second cousins when compared to those.”

Lord Mayoral candidate Arron Wood this week pledged to spend $9.6 million redesigning Queensbridge Square as a major green space.

The plan would include removing the “embarrassing” Red Stairs Amphitheatre.

Mr Bracher called the announcement “a fresh approach that will meet immediate needs”.

“The greening of Queensbridge Square and removal of the Red Stairs would transform it into the type and quality of space that it has never been since completion in 2006 he said.

Mr Bracher called current Lord Mayor Nick Reece’s plan for a competition to redesign the amphitheatre “expensive and extensive”.

“We all know what is needed at Queensbridge Square, so let’s not delay any longer and start to return Southbank Promenade to its former status,” he said.

Mr Wood told Southbank News that if elected he would focus on “deliberate and targeted projects, like greening Queensbridge Square to deliver real and positive results for local businesses and residents.”

“Renders don’t add greenery to the Yarra, plants do,” he said.

Mr Wood said former Lord Mayor Sally Capp’s focus on her signature Greenline project had wasted time and resources on what he labelled “an unfunded and undeliverable mega-project with a more than $200 million black hole.”

“The Greenline has already seen $22.5 million spent before a sod has been turned and Town Hall leadership has a wafer-thin surplus of $100,000,” he said.

Completed ballot papers for the City of Melbourne elections must be lodged before 6pm on Friday October 25, with vote counting to begin on Saturday October 26.

Local government election results from across Victoria are due to be announced on Friday November 15.