The Age reported on the Fishermans Bend Transport Plan, noting the lack of completion dates and its oddly timed release scheduled for a public holiday.

Despite being Australia’s largest urban renewal precinct, Fishermans Bend has languished due to a lack of State Government commitment on essential public infrastructure required for 80,000 residents and 80,000 employees.

City of Port Phillip councillor Alex Makin, whose Montague Ward covers Fishermans Bend’s eastern end, said residential and commercial developments would not progress until the state government committed to a timeline for building the tram line and other transport infrastructure.

While the Integrated Transport Plan has some positive actions, including more frequent bus services and a planned new bus route connecting Fishermans Bend and Port Melbourne to Anzac Station, it lacks definitive timeframes.

“The lack of definitive time frames is a concern particularly because the community has been burnt before on this,” Makin said.

“When you look at successful urban renewal projects, transport is provided to catalyse the development.

Melbourne’s last tram extension was to the Docklands in 2014, to facilitate the development of Harbour Esplanade. While several mistakes were made with the Docklands, it was at least provided with public transport infrastructure in a timely manner. Fishermans Bend, by contrast is still waiting for tram extensions promised in 2017.

The vision of 80,000 residents and 80,000 jobs within Fishermans Bend would substantially improve housing affordability by supporting development in areas close to employment centres.

“If the state government is serious about resolving housing affordability and serious about creating jobs near where people live, it will commit to the tram lines and commit to when they will be delivered.”

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