Melbourne’s popular Southbank area is to be the subject of a redevelopment blueprint, to better integrate its commercial, cultural and residential parts and make the fast growing area more productive, sustainable and liveable.
The Gillard Labor Government will contribute $400,000 towards the blueprint from the $20 million
Liveable Cities program.
The
Southbank Cultural Precinct Redevelopment Blueprint will be created in conjunction with Arts Victoria and the Department of Premier and Cabinet and will encourage:
- greater work opportunities for the 11,000 local residents and the 20,000 that will live there by 2030
- more commercial activity to halt the area’s declining work population
- better pedestrian access
- better public transport
- reduced dependence on cars
- the linking of significant cultural facilities such as the Melbourne Recital Centre and the Melbourne Theatre Company which now sit in isolation from one another.
This joint initiative between the Federal Government, the Victorian Government, the City of Melbourne and the University of Melbourne will help boost the Southbank Cultural Precinct’s reputation as one of the nation’s most important arts hubs.
It is a great example of the cooperation needed between governments and communities to tackle the big challenges facing our cities such as climate change, a lack of affordable housing, traffic congestion and a growing, ageing population.
As one of the most urbanised societies on the planet, Australia’s future economic prosperity and social cohesion will depend largely on how successful we are at making our cities work better.
That is why Federal Labor has ended the Commonwealth’s self-imposed, decade long exile from our major cities and is again engaging with the states, territories and local councils to bring about a much needed urban renaissance.