Plan proposes reclaiming Docklands harbour for housing and wetlands

The proposal, developed at the invitation of Deakin University which has a campus in Docklands, would see the construction of mid- and low-rise housing on the reclaimed land, along with extensive parkland intended to return parts of the waterfront to its natural state. It also includes a new tram, car and pedestrian bridge to link existing routes, and could include construction of a fish market similar to Sydney's.

Docklands has struggled to attract vitality, with wide windswept streets and a dominance of office towers. The City of Melbourne estimates its current population at 19,139. Bates Smart director Julian Anderson said the suburb's streets are too wide and windswept, and that a lack of residential property was in part behind the lack of activity. He argued that doubling the population would improve amenity and encourage more food and retail.

Anderson pointed to Denmark, the Netherlands and Singapore as examples of countries using reclaimed land. He noted that Melbourne has not created a significant new inner-city park in the last century. He said the area was originally wetlands or a marsh and that First Nations history identifies it as a significant meeting place at the confluence of the Maribyrnong and the harbour; the proposal could recreate wetlands on the southern side of Victoria Harbour.

Lord Mayor Nick Reece, who pledged to build a seafood precinct in Docklands during his election campaign, welcomed the proposal. "Docklands is our waterfront gateway to the city and we welcome any proposal that explores its potential to add vibrancy, connection and activation," he said. Reece said the suburb had a lot of potential still to be realised and the idea of a 36-hectare park was worth exploring in detail, calling it creative thinking.

However, Jamal Hakim, co-president of the Docklands residents group Community 3008, was critical. He said the suburb already faces traffic congestion and adding 2000 homes would not help. "Taking over part of the water to build apartments is not the answer for a neighbourhood that has already increased in size since its beginnings," he said. Hakim said the group supports more greenery and wetlands but would be concerned about reclaiming parts of Victoria Harbour. He pointed to a deteriorating waterfront, sections already closed, and a lack of a high school for the suburb. "We don't have a shortage of visions or architectural drawings: what we have a shortage of is delivery in the Docklands," he said. "We need not just grand visions but to fix some of the basic infrastructure that is falling apart."