Victorian planning minister Richard Wynne has granted planning approval to the University of Melbourne for its $2b engineering and design innovation campus in Fishermans Bend.
Set to open in 2025, the campus masterplanned by Grimshaw will feature heavy engineering and large fabrication testing and prototyping facilities, purpose-built for the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology and the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning. The Colab8 consortium has been appointed to develop a concept design for the precinct. The consortium comprises Denton Corker Marshall, Edition Office, Kerstin Thompson Architects, Snøhetta, Unispace and Arup.
The approval comes as the state government unveils a new vision statement outlining its plan to turn Fishermans Bend into a centre of advanced manufacturing, engineering and design innovation.
A central plank of the advanced manufacturing plan is the transformation of the former General Motors Holden site on Salmon Street into an “innovation precinct.” The first stage of redevelopment, backed by a $179.4 million investment detailed in the Victorian budget 2021/22, is being delivered by Development Victoria and will include remediation of the 32-hectare site and the installation of crucial infrastructure and services.
Other priorities include improving connectivity through new transport options and civic boulevards to generate pedestrian activity, creating a green network to support sustainability and delivering high-quality urban design.
A pilot project for a green spine and cycle connection corridor along Turner Street will be delivered in partnership with the City of Melbourne this year.
The government has introduced interim planning controls for the Fishermans Bend precinct to guide development. These interim controls will be in place while a more detailed precinct plan and permanent controls are finalized. The government said drafts would be prepared by the Fishermans Bend Taskforce before being publicly released for review and comment.
