Urban design experts and other notable local figures will participate in the City of Melbourne’s inaugural public event discussing the Greenline Project, ahead of the commencement of major works at Birrarung Marr.
The free event, ‘From High Line to Greenline’, is part of the council’s refreshed Melbourne Conversations series, expected to attract hundreds of attendees to Fed Square on 16 April 2024.
The Greenline Project discussion will be held at The Edge, one of Melbourne’s premier speaking venues, and will feature an expert panel including:
- Erin O’Donnell, Birrarung Council member and expert in water law and policy;
- Julian O’Shea, award-winning designer, academic and video storyteller;
- Kirsten Bauer, Greenline Project landscape architect and director of ASPECT Studios; and
- Sally Capp, Lord Mayor of the City of Melbourne.
The panellists will delve into the vision and master plan of the Greenline Project, juxtaposed with the successes of other internationally acclaimed urban renewal projects such as the New York City High Line.
“The Greenline Project will transform Melbourne’s riverfront from Birrarung Marr to the Bolte Bridge – while creating thousands of jobs, attracting waves of new visitors, and injecting millions of dollars into the economy,” said Lord Mayor Capp.
“We envisage this city-shaping project will become Melbourne’s answer to Chicago’s Riverwalk, London’s Battersea Power Station and New York City’s High Line – creating a legacy for generations to come.
“We want to deepen public understanding and receive ongoing feedback and ideas for this significant, city-shaping project.”
Attendees will have the opportunity to explore a curated collection of related books and resources at an onsite pop-up library. Additionally, they can register for a complimentary Greenline Project walking tour scheduled for the upcoming months.
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“The Birrarung runs through the heart of Naarm and the City of Melbourne, and is Australia’s first and so far, only river to be recognised as a living entity,” said O’Donnell. “The Greenline Project event is an opportunity for everyone to learn more about how the city can embrace and connect with the river.”
Facilitated by Russel Howcroft, the conversation coincides with the impending commencement of works to transform the Birrarung Marr Precinct.
A new information hub for the Greenline Project is also in the works, ensuring that Melburnians and visitors alike can enquire and learn about the initiative. The project is forecasted to generate significant economic benefits, including $1.2 billion in uplift and value created, $1.7 billion in gross value-added economic output, $24 million in additional annual visitor spend, and 6,400 ongoing jobs by 2042, including 3,400 direct and indirect construction jobs.
Urban design and architecture firms T.C.L. and ASPECT Studios are the primary consultants for the Greenline Project, collaborating with seven agencies to deliver five precincts along the river. The multidisciplinary consortium includes engineers WSP and FCS, Capire Consulting Group, Jackson Clements Burrows Architecture and BKK Architects, as well as urban planners Urbis and Gehl. Through its delivery, the Greenline Project aims to create a mix of promenades, parks, open spaces, native plantings, cultural activations and environmental renewal integrations between Birrarung Marr and the Bolte Bridge.
Melbourne Conversations is presented by the City of Melbourne in partnership with Fed Square, in 2024. Tickets to ‘From High Line to Greenline’ are complimentary, but registration via What’s On Melbourne is essential. For more information on the Greenline Project, visit the City of Melbourne website.
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