Melbourne’s unused roads to be transformed into green spaces

$15 million has been allocated by the City of Melbourne to build new green spaces on land occupied by “underperforming” roads.

Announced as part of the council’s 2017-18 budget, the money will be spent on several projects including one for Southbank Boulevard and another for Elizabeth Street.

$11 million has been set aside to develop Melbourne’s largest linear park at Southbank Boulevard. Designed by the City of Melbourne’s City Design Studio, the project will see the replacement of a one car lane road with 2.5 hectares of green space.

Southbank is Melbourne’s most densely-populated suburb and has approximately 3sqm of green space per person. The recommended per-person provision in Melbourne is 22sqm.

The intersection of Southbank Boulevard and Dodds Street will be redeveloped for use as a multi-functional events space. The redevelopment will also feature planting, 1.2 kilometres of dedicated cycle lane, and a children’s play space.

A further $1.5 million will rejuvenate the southern end of Elizabeth Street. The southbound lane will be closed and replaced with new paving, lighting and street trees. Construction is set to begin later this year.