Planning
Questions linger over Fishermans Bend data centre approval
The state government’s recent approval of a major new data centre at Fishermans Bend has sharpened local debate about how rapidly expanding AI infrastructure is being assessed, and whether existing planning processes are equipped to deal with its long-term environmental and land-use implications.
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State approves nearly 500 new apartments across Southbank and Docklands
Two major apartment towers in Southbank and Docklands’ Yarra’s Edge precinct have been approved by the state government, paving the way for almost 500 new homes in two of Melbourne’s fastest-growing inner-city neighbourhoods.
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Consultation opens on major Normanby Road Reserve expansion
The City of Melbourne has opened community consultation on the future expansion of Normanby Road Reserve in Southbank, launching a six-week engagement program that could shape one of the most significant new parks ever delivered in Australia’s most densely populated suburb.
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State Theatre to reopen early as $1.7b arts precinct overhaul hits major milestone
Arts Centre Melbourne’s State Theatre will reopen six months ahead of schedule, marking the first major completion in the Victorian Government’s $1.7 billion Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation project.
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Giving young people the chance to thrive: Lighthouse Foundation’s approach to ending youth homelessness
For many of us, the festive season means warmth, celebration, and the comfort of being surrounded by people we love. But for too many young people across Victoria, this time of year highlights something very different: instability, fear, and the harsh reality of not knowing where they will sleep at night.
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Anzac Station opens with Metro Tunnel, transforming transport links through St Kilda Rd and Southbank
Melbourne’s new Anzac Station has officially opened to passengers with the launch of the Metro Tunnel, delivering the first heavy-rail connection to St Kilda Rd and reshaping how people move through the city’s inner south.
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Council backs 52-storey Southbank tower after Team Reece exits over donation conflict
The City of Melbourne has endorsed a 52-storey apartment tower in the Crown Casino precinct – minutes after Lord Mayor Nick Reece and three “Team Reece” councillors left the chamber citing a conflict of interest linked to a 2024 campaign donation.
Read MoreTwenty-storey Southbank tower planned for Sturt St
A proposed $80 million, 20-storey residential tower on Sturt St has received conditional support from City of Melbourne planning officers, who have advised that the Minister for Planning should not object to the project.
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Stage one of The Queensbridge Building complete
Developer Time & Place, in partnership with MaxCap Group and Hickory, has announced the completion of stage one of The Queens-bridge Building – a milestone that marks the emergence of Southbank’s newest cultural and lifestyle precinct.
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Indi Southbank opens at Boyd Community Hub
A long-awaited new addition to Southbank’s skyline – and to its community heart – has officially opened, with Oxford Properties Group and Investa unveiling Indi Southbank, their first Build-to-Rent (BTR) development in Melbourne, at the Boyd Community Hub precinct.
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Station Pier reopens as council pushes bold plan to revitalise Port Melbourne’s waterfront
Port Melbourne’s Station Pier has officially reopened to the public for the first time in four years, marking a major milestone for one of Victoria’s most recognisable waterfront landmarks.
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Whiteman St tram spur through Crown Casino revealed in government’s new Fishermans Bend transport plan
Whiteman St in Southbank could soon be home to a major new tram line running directly through the heart of Crown Casino’s complex, as part of the state government’s new Fishermans Bend Integrated Transport Plan (FBITP).
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“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.
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Community invited to have its say on new ACCA park
Southbank locals are invited to attend community information sessions this month to learn more about plans to transform the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (ACCA) forecourt into a new public park.
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Council targets derelict sites as Southbank eyesores put on notice
Several long-dormant and dilapidated sites in Southbank are now under active scrutiny by the City of Melbourne, following a unanimous council vote to “use every lever” to deal with vacant, unsafe and unsightly properties across the municipality.
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$40m sewer upgrade for Fishermans Bend
South East Water is investing $40 million to upgrade Port Melbourne’s sewer system, supporting population growth and safety concerns in Fishermans Bend.
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$500m Park Modern residences launched in South Melbourne
Developer Time & Place has officially launched Park Modern, a $500 million residential project that will deliver 372 luxury apartments overlooking the Royal Botanic Gardens.
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Debate reignites over central city uplift scheme and affordable housing
The state government’s central city floor area uplift (FAU) scheme is once again under scrutiny after new analysis revealed it has not delivered a single affordable housing unit in Melbourne’s CBD or Southbank since its inception in 2016.
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“You feel like you’re in a canyon”: creating green space in Southbank’s concrete jungle
Dr Yazid Ninsalam, Head of Landscape Architecture at RMIT, spoke at the Southbank Residents’ Association AGM on September 1 about the urban planning opportunities and challenges facing Southbank as the country’s most densely populated postcode.
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“Plan now, pay less later”: local engineer urges Southbank high-rise owners to prepare for electrification costs
Howard Barnes has spent the past decade studying the guts of his building. A mechanical engineer and Tower 3 resident at Yarra’s Edge since 2013, he has a message for communities living in Melbourne towers built around 20 years ago or more: start planning – and saving – for electrification now.
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Celebrating 50 years
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