At 485ha, and almost three times the size of Melbourne's CBD, the Fishermans Bend Business Precinct provides an unparalleled opportunity for urban renewal.
It comprises five key precincts:
- The four precincts in the Fishermans Bend Urban Renewal Area are envisioned to be a thriving place that is a leading example for environmental sustainability, liveability, connectivity, diversity, and liveability. This includes the mixed-use precincts of Montague, Lorimer, Sandridge and Wirraway that will expand the Melbourne capital city.
- The Fishermans Bend National Employment and Innovation Cluster (NEIC), including the government-owned Fishermans Bend Innovation Precinct(opens in a new window), envisaged to be internationally renowned as a centre for innovation in advanced manufacturing, engineering, and design.
In 2022, the Victorian Government announced an investment of $750,000 to support the planning processes for Fishermans Bend.
This is in addition to the previous investment of $179.4 million in 2021 to kick-start the Fishermans Bend Innovation Precinct, funding a major transformation and renewal of the former General Motors Holden site at Fishermans Bend over three years.
Where is Fishermans Bend?
Fishermans Bend Business Precinct is right on the doorstep of Melbourne CBD.
It provides for the expansion of Central Melbourne to accommodate residential and commercial growth and strengthen Melbourne’s competitiveness for jobs and investment.
Fishermans Bend in the future
Fishermans Bend will reflect Melbourne’s past and help define its future. A benchmark for urban transformation, the precinct will become a series of thriving places. It will offer high amenity housing and be a leading example of environmental sustainability.
Fishermans Bend aims to be Australia's largest urban renewal Green Star Community.
By 2050 the precinct will have:
- 80,000 workers
- 80,000 residents
The Fishermans Bend Framework(opens in a new window) sets out the future strategic direction for the development and urban renewal of the precinct.
Life in this precinct
Jobs
Fishermans Bend will support 80,000 jobs overall:
- The National Employment and Innovation Cluster (NEIC) will support 40,000 of these jobs as well as 20,000 tertiary students by 2050
- The Urban Renewal Area will comprise the other 40,000 jobs across a range of sectors.
Advancing Manufacturing: the Fishermans Bend Opportunity(opens in a new window) sets out the strategic direction for the NEIC to become internationally renowned as a centre for innovation in advanced manufacturing, engineering and design.
The centrepiece to the National Employment and Innovation Cluster is the Fishermans Bend Innovation Precinct on the former General Motors Holden site (purchased by Government in 2016). The site is being transformed to create an investment-ready, world-class, advanced manufacturing, engineering and design precinct with the University of Melbourne confirmed to relocate their Engineering and Design Campus to the site (Stage 1 due to open in 2025).
In 2021, $179.4m was provided in the Victorian State Budget for Stage 1 of the Fishermans Bend Innovation Precinct.
Stage One of the Fishermans Bend Innovation Precinct will provide key development infrastructure for the precinct. This includes delivering a new road linking Salmon Street and Todd Road, public realm and open space, and unlocking development ready lots for related industry investment.
Stage One construction is expected to support up to 300 direct jobs each year, and close to 700 indirect jobs. The developable land will be capable of supporting around 2,000 jobs from 2025.
The precinct will encourage collaboration between industry and academia, with the University of Melbourne leading the way. Key employment sectors in Fishermans Bend will be:
- Advanced manufacturing, engineering, and design specialising in defence, aerospace, clean technology, and creative technology
- Creative industries
- Professional services.
Housing
Fishermans Bend will offer a variety of housing across four distinct precincts. They include:
- Wirraway - a family friendly inner-city neighbourhood close to the bay and Westgate Park
- Montague - a diverse and well-connected community that celebrates its cultural and built heritage
- Lorimer - a vibrant riverside area connected to the CBD, Docklands, and other renewal areas
- Sandridge - a lively neighbourhood made up of commercial, retail, and diverse housing options.
Transport
Fishermans Bend is currently serviced by two tram routes and multiple bus routes, with a further two tram routes proposed, while two potential alignments and three potential station locations have been preserved for potential future Metro Rail services.
Together these improvements, plus best practice improvements for pedestrians and cyclists will help the precinct reach its goal of 80 per cent of all trips to be taken by walking, cycling or public transport by 2050.
In 2021 $15 million was invested over two years to progress planning for longer term transport links.
Services
Fishermans Bend will be the new home of the University of Melbourne’s School of Engineering and Design in the future.
The precinct is also planned to include a range of vertical schools, including the South Melbourne Primary School (opened in 2018) and the Port Melbourne Secondary College (opened in 2022).
Environment
Fishermans Bend aims to be Australia's largest urban renewal Green Star Community. This will be supported by requirements for sustainable buildings, with the majority mandated to be built to a five-star standard under the Green Building Council of Australia’s ‘Design and As-built’ rating tool.
A water recycling plant is being planned to treat wastewater in the precinct to be distributed to all properties via a third pipe plumbing network for irrigation, clothes washing and toilet flushing, while smart rainwater tanks are required to capture rainwater for reuse and drainage protection.
Open space is planned to be located within 200 metres of all residents and workers by 2050 and will be connected by a range of linear green spaces that provide water-sensitive continuous green spaces throughout the precinct.
The Fishermans Bend Water Sensitive City Strategy(opens in a new window) builds on the sustainability goals for the precinct, applying world’s best practice in managing water as a resource and the impacts of climate change in urban environments.
More information
The Fishermans Bend website(opens in a new window) has more information about the precinct.
Updated