The Greenline Project is a transformational $300 million project that presents a new ambitious vision for the north bank of the Yarra – Birrarung. It will create 4km of interconnected promenades, parks, open spaces, Australian native plantings, cultural activations and environmental renewal in 5 Precincts between Birrarung Marr and the Bolte Bridge.
The Greenline has 4 project themes – ecology, culture, place and connection. Ecology is where the river is a living entity and enhanced as an ecological corridor; Culture where there are authentic stories and experiences; Place defining Melbourne’s character and place and Connection having a connected vibrant waterfront.
Following endorsement from the Rotary Melbourne Environmental Sustainability Committee and a letter from Adrian Nelson President of Rotary Melbourne to the Lord Mayor in December 2022, Rob McGuirk and Peter Berg along with John McCaskill from Rotary Canterbury/Rotarians for Bees[1] met with the City of Melbourne Greenline management team to discuss a potential Rotary involvement on the Greenline.
From an idea developed by John McCaskill it was proposed that a Rotary Pollinator Garden be created in one of the planned park precincts along the Greenline to attract bees, butterflies and other pollinators that importantly could be featured as an education area for schoolchildren to visit and learn about the very important work of pollinators. It was also suggested that Rotarians from in and around Melbourne could volunteer in the care and maintenance of the garden.
Arising from the meeting, the Greenline management team included Rotary as a stakeholder in the project enabling Rotary to be directly involved in the consultation and engagement process and to have a direct dialogue with the City of Melbourne on a continuing basis.
A member of the Greenline team hosted a walking tour for the 2023 Rotary International Convention delegates in late May which outlined plans for the Greenline and included viewing two trial floating wetlands on the river with plantings that encourage local native wildlife.
On 15th August, the City of Melbourne held a Future Melbourne Committee public meeting chaired by the Lord Mayor where approval was given on an updated Greenline Project Draft Master Plan which gives an overarching design framework that provides the overall design vision, objectives and strategies for the Greenline.
The current version of the draft Master Plan follows an earlier version that was publicly exhibited in an extensive 6-week stakeholder and community engagement program during April-May. Input was received from over 750 participants. A survey was part of the community engagement which featured a significant number of questions on the 5 Greenline precincts where a small group representing the Rotary Clubs of Melbourne, Canterbury and Port Phillip provided a response.
The Master Plan is to be implemented over a number of years beginning with planning and design for each of the 5 precincts, then progressing to delivery of project stages, subject to funding and approvals. There will be regular consultation with stakeholders and community engagement at the concept design stage for each project prior to delivery.
Late 2023 will see the development of the 5 Precinct plans and mid-to-late 2024 is projected the development of concept design plans for the precincts with stakeholder engagement and with project delivery scheduled from 2025 to 2028.
The stakeholders and the community are again being invited to provide input to the draft Master Plan during a 4-week exhibition period through to 13th September in an online survey on the Participate Melbourne website.
By Peter Berg
https://participate.melbourne.vic.gov.au/greenline-project/draft-master-plan
[1] Now known as We’re for Bees and Other Pollinators
