Planning Minister Richard Wynne has released a new vision for Fishermans Bend, the 465-hectare area near Melbourne’s CBD which will one day accommodate more than 80,000 people.
Livability, sustainable development and jobs growth are the focus of the Andrews Labor Government for Fishermans Bend, which is the biggest urban renewable area in Australia.
Detailed planning work is underway for five separate neighbourhoods - Montague, Sandridge, Lorrimer, Wirraway, and a new employment precinct.
Each neighbourhood will have its own character and final designs will be based on community consultation and work by an independent expert committee.
There will be a mix of housing types, including high-rise apartment towers with different apartment sizes, low-rise developments and townhouses, so that future residents have plenty of choice.
- The Sandridge precinct will have lots of open space and a mix of residential development, office space and commercial areas.
- The Lorimer precinct will have lower-scale development and be home to small businesses, with social infrastructure such as childcare centres and libraries, and will connect Fishermans Bend to the city with walking and cycling trails and public transport.
- The Montague precinct will have taller buildings, taking advantage of transport links, with laneways and renovated older building. Buckhurst Street will be tree-lined and will become a retail and dining destination.
- The Wirraway precinct will be designed for families, with leafy streets and a range of housing types, with good access to the bay and Westgate park.
- The employment precinct will be designed to attract international investment and will become a destination for emerging technologies, specialised labs and education spaces.
In 2012, the previous Liberal Government rezoned the land from industrial to Capital City Zone overnight, without doing any proper planning work, which caused land values to skyrocket.
The Labor Government is working through that mistake and making sure space for infrastructure is available and that the community is involved with the planning process.
More information about the vision and opportunities to be involved are online at
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Planning Richard Wynne
“We’re making sure Fishermans Bend is a place people want to work and live, with the right infrastructure and plenty of housing choices for families.”
“We are determined to properly plan Fishermans Bend and are making sure the community is part of the process, we’re maximizing this rare opportunity to create new neighbourhoods close to the city.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020