Southbank
Southbank Plan logo - part
Southbank Plan gets Government’s seal of approval

The Southbank Plan has been approved by the Victorian Government to guide future and public investment in the Southbank Arts and Entertainment precinct.

The draft Southbank Plan was launched in mid-2006 in partnership with Melbourne City Council.

The 10-15 year plan sets out a vision for Southbank that will see it consolidate its reputation as a nationally recognised, world-class arts precinct, much in the way the MCG and surrounds are a world-class sporting precinct.

Following consultation with the community and key stakeholders , the plan has been refined, finalised and endorsed by the Government.

The newly endorsed Southbank Plan includes seven identified possible projects for the future:

Arts Plaza, Southbank Project 1
Project 1: The Sturt Street Cultural Spine
The reinvigoration of the Sturt Street cultural spine as the vibrant cultural and community heart of Southbank, including integration of a major new pedestrian ramp linking the Arts Centre plaza with the nationally important Sturt Street cultural precinct. The Minister for Planning Justin Madden recently announced the appointment of architects to begin design work on this project.
PDF Icon Southbank Plan - Project 1 (PDF - 238 Kb)
Open Space Link, Southbank Project 2
Project 2: Southbank Boulevard Open Space Link
And creation of more public open space
PDF Icon Southbank Plan - Project 2 (PDF - 179 Kb)
City Link Interchange, Southbank Project 3
Project 3: City Link Interchange Precinct
Including generous walking and cycling paths
PDF Icon Southbank Plan - Project 3 (PDF - 70 Kb)
Kavanagh St, Southbank Project 4
Project 4: Kavanagh/Moray Street Local Link
And enhancement of streetscapes
PDF Icon Southbank Plan - Project 4 (PDF - 125 Kb)
Undercroft, Southbank Project 5
Project 5: Westgate Freeway Undercroft and Docklands - South Melbourne Links
With cycling and walking paths
PDF Icon Southbank Plan - Project 5 (PDF - 169 Kb)
Whiteman Street, Southbank Project 6
Project 6: Whiteman Street Local Centre and Park
To provide space for community activity
PDF Icon Southbank Plan - Project 6 (PDF - 92 Kb)
Activating Life, Southbank Project 7
Project 7: Activating Life in the Public Environment
A series of initiatives to activate life in the Southbank public environment
PDF Icon Southbank Plan - Project 7 (PDF - 68 Kb)
The Southbank Plan encompasses an area bounded by the Yarra River to the North, St Kilda Road to the east, Dorcas Street, Kingsway and the Westgate Freeway to the South and Montague Street on the West.

Southbank is also a high density residential area, and the plan lays the foundations for the whole area to be better connected so that residents can walk to new local shops and services.

The State Government has committed $5 million to support the planning and schematic design of the Southbank Plan’s first project around Sturt Street, which will transform the area into a major pedestrian-friendly arts and cultural attraction.

Minister for Planning, Justin Madden, and Minister for the Arts Lynne Kosky recently announced the appointment of Australian architects Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp (fjmt) to design the new Sturt Street cultural precinct.

The redevelopment will include the creation of an expanded public plaza linking the Arts Centre’s two buildings, providing new space for events and performances, and a pedestrian promenade connecting Sturt Street to St Kilda Road.

Due to the size of the document it has been broken up into the following parts:

Southbank Plan - part 1:
PDF Icon Southbank Plan - Intro, Context, Issues, Principles (PDF - 1.8 Mb)

Southbank Plan - part 2:
PDF Icon Southbank Plan - Projects, Appendicies, References (PDF - 2.2 Mb)

(The illustrations in the plan are subject to change and for indicative purposes only. Regulatory, Government and commercial interests may change and affect the actual development on the proposed facilities and sites. The project partners give no guarantee regarding any of the projects' specific location or construction.)
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