Parts of the $366 million redevelopment of Melbourne Park will be open for first time for the 2013 Australian Open, the Victorian Government has announced.

Work on the Eastern Plaza and National Tennis Centre is well ahead of schedule with some elements likely to be finished before Christmas – a year earlier than expected.

New entrances have been created for Hisense Arena and the final span of the new Edwin Flack footbridge has been lifted into place over Olympic Boulevard.

The Edwin Flack Bridge will join with the newly constructed Eastern Plaza to create an unbroken pedestrian link running from the MCG, through Melbourne Park and finishing at AAMI Park.

Speaking at the launch of the 2013 Australian Open, Minister for Major Projects Denis Napthine said: “This fantastic new public space will be open later this year.”

1,500 extra seats and a new operable roof were also being installed at Margaret Court, making Melbourne the only Grand Slam to offer three operable roof stadiums.

NH Architecture and Populous' design for Melbourne Park’s Western Precinct was unveiled in January, which includes a redeveloped Margaret Court Arena with an operable roof and increased capacity by 1,500 to 7,500.

“What is amazing about this part of the project is that in December this year the builders will pack up, and Margaret Court Arena will undergo a transformation from a building site to a tennis arena for the duration of the Open. Then afterwards, the builders will move back in and work will continue,” Dr Napthine said.

“The same thing will happen again in 2014, by which time we will have the steel roof frame in place and new seating plats installed. This will be a unique experience for everyone – there are not many building sites that host an international sporting event each year.

Napthine said the Open was an important event for Victoria.

“The 2012 Australian Open had a record attendance of 686,000 people and attracted more than 135 million television viewers around the world,” Napthine said.

“The Australian Open makes a vital contribution to Victoria, generating around 1,000 full time equivalent jobs and $164 million annually into the state’s economy. Beyond all this, it is a brilliant sporting spectacle and one of the great traditions of January in Melbourne.

“The Melbourne Park Facilities are already the envy of other Grand Slams and when Stage One is complete in late 2014 they will be even better.