Southbank locals lend their voices to the transformation of the Melbourne Arts Precinct

The transformation of the Melbourne Arts Precinct is well under way and keeping the local community updated and engaged is a priority for the project team.

One way the team connects with the local community is through the project’s Community Reference Group, an independent group of people from the Southbank community, which includes business representatives.

The group’s members share a passion for the Southbank community and are committed to seeing positive change in the Arts Precinct.

Local resident and Community Reference Group member MaryKay Rauma believes living in Southbank gives her a “front row seat” to all that makes Melbourne one of the best cities in the world.

“There is an ‘aliveness’ to Southbank that has its own beat unlike any other neighbourhood in Melbourne – it’s intense, exciting and never dull, and it all begins the moment I step out my front door,” Ms Rauma said.

As a co-founder of not-for-profit community and advocacy group Southbank3006, MaryKay, alongside the group’s president David Hamilton, is focused on connecting residents and improving the liveability of Southbank.

In David’s role on the project’s Community Reference Group, he’s been an active voice for residents of the Triptych Building to ensure the project is aware of potential impacts, and residents are kept up to date on project works.

“I wanted to be part of the process of welcoming the new neighbours, to develop an understanding of what is important to both of us,” Mr Hamilton said. “There has been a refreshing honesty not found with many projects.”

What the transformation will do to increase public green space in Southbank has been a key discussion point during meetings with the group, with members sharing their excitement for Laak Boorndap – 18,000 sqms of new urban garden that will wrap around Arts Centre Melbourne, NGV International and The Fox: NGV Contemporary.

“Access to new beautiful outdoor and indoor spaces within reach,” Ms Rauma said when asked what she was most excited about. “It’s like building an extension onto our apartment with more places to call home in Southbank. A transformed Melbourne Arts Precinct will make the light that is Southbank burn brighter and better.”

The Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation is a city-defining project that will transform the city and Southbank – attracting millions more visitors, providing more food and drink options, providing more garden space for health and wellbeing and cementing Melbourne’s reputation as an international cultural capital.

Local business owner and director of Quest Southbank Dave Walton is optimistic about the impact the transformation will have on cultural tourism.

“I’m excited to continue to see the growth of the area to mark Southbank as an international hot spot for the arts, and to be able to provide more reasons for growth in visitation numbers to our city,” Mr Walton said. “It will provide more spaces for people to showcase their passion, talents and for individuals and groups to be themselves in a like-minded and safe community.”

Southbank resident and Community Reference Group member Eileen Pang shares Mr Walton’s enthusiasm for the economic impacts of the transformation, stating that “the entire project will be fantastic for Melbourne, Victoria and Australia – economically, culturally and visually.”

The Community Reference Group has been established for the life of the project as a channel for in-depth discussions with community representatives on project activities.

Members include representatives from the Southbank Residents’ Association, Southbank3006, Southbank Sustainability Group, local business owners and neighbouring residents. It is already offering the project team valuable local perspectives on the transformation of the precinct and ensuring strong and open channels of communication.

To find out more about the Community Reference Group and the Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation, visit artsprecinct.melbourne •