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Coventry Street Stage 1 - Construction Commencing August 2009

Coventry Street Connections Stage 1 Construction
Intersection of Coventry & Clarendon Street

The City of Port Phillip in partnership with the State Government’s ‘Creating Better Places Program’ and Melbourne Water is renewing the Coventry Street streetscape. 

The design has been informed by extensive consultations with residents, visitors’ and business owners, and is based on the ‘South Melbourne Central Structure Plan’ (2006) and the ‘South Melbourne Streetscape Masterplan’ (2007).

It is envisaged that these works will  contribute to the improved economic prosperity of the South Melbourne Shopping Centre by increasing access and amenity. 

Stage one of the project will be commencing in August and will extend through to early November2009 .

The full streetscape upgrade will take a number of years to realise, and will ultimately deliver an improved pedestrian connection between the Light Rail Station, the Market, shops on Coventry Street and the retail activity on Clarendon Street.

Details of the wider project, its background and historic consultations can be viewed here. 

Stage 1 works are limited to the intersection of Coventry and Clarendon Street.
 
This $620,000 upgrade will increase the pedestrian space on both sides of Clarendon Street and will include:

  • Rain Gardens (Water Sensitive Urban Design) with gravel mulch and sedge planting to enable harvesting of storm water runoff from streets. This will improve the long term health of trees, and will further improve the quality of storm water entering into the Port Philip Bay Catchment. 
  • Used bluestone pitchers (locally sourced from Port Phillip reserves) saw cut and re-laid in patterns.  
  • New seating to provide a pleasant place for weary shoppers.
  • Extension of the footpath, which retains the historic bluestone kerb. This historic kerb will be raised to be level with the footpath, to ensure no more pooling of water when it rains.
  • Provision for footpath trading areas.
  • Realignment of lanes to maintain through and turning traffic movements.
  • A multi use space that can be used as a loading zone in the morning, and that will accommodate outdoor dining from lunch through to the evening.
  • Raised pedestrian pavement level with the adjacent footpath.

 

A copy of the final design for the Intersection can be downloaded here.

 

When Will Construction Start?
Construction will commence in August and is expected to end by early November 2009. 

Council is seeking to minimise any impacts to businesses and the community during this period by:

  • Commencing works to avoid key retail trade dates (e.g. Christmas, Mothers Day);
  • Maintaining access to shops at all times when traders are open;
  • Undertaking more invasive works early in the day (prior to traders opening up shop); 
  • Staging works in sections, including: 
    • constructing the west side (Golden Gate Hotel and Optometrist) of Coventry Street for 5 weeks from September 2009; and
    • constructing the east side (Optus and Clarendon Centre Side) of Coventry Street for 6 weeks in August.

Council will make every effort to ensure that the works are completed within these timeframes however works program may be subject to change due to the weather, and other potential complexities including finding previously unknown underground services, and the reliance on external providers including water and power authorities. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Coventry Street be closed to traffic?
2 street closures will be required for a 1 week at a time for the construction of the two raised pedestrian crossings (north-south along Clarendon Street). 

The closure of the street will only occur at one side of the intersection at a time. Closures will occur early in the week to avoid busy trade periods that occur on weekends.  We plan to have the road reopened for weekend trade.

Directional signage and detours will be established to direct customers to car parks, shops and the Market during this period. 

There will be no traffic closures to Clarendon Street at any time.

Will there be changes to parking in the Street?
Yes.  When the full streetscape (from the Light Rail to Clarendon Street Intersection) project is complete there will be a nett gain of 1 car-parking space in the project overall.

In isolation, at the completion of Stage 1 works (but prior to the full completion of the street) there will be a loss of:

  • 2 car parking spaces adjacent to the Optometrist;
  • 2 car parking spaces adjacent to the Noodle Shop; and
  • 2 car parking spaces adjacent to the Clarendon Centre.

The Loading Zone in front of the Golden Gate Hotel will operate as a ‘Shared Loading Zone’. This is a trial of the first of its kind in the City of Port Phillip.  Loading may occur in the morning, as the kerb has been designed to enable trucks to mount the kerb.   From midday onwards, this area can be fenced off to accommodate outdoor dining. 

Will any trees be removed during Stage 1 works? 
Yes. 3 trees will be removed including: 1 Elm Tree and 1 European Ash, both in ‘fair’ condition, and 1 European Ash that is in ‘poor’ condition.  These are clearly marked on design drawings. 

6 Elm Trees (in ‘good’ health) will be retained. 

13 Firewheel trees (stenocarpus sinuatus) will be planted. A primary benefit of the Firewheel tree is its outstanding seasonal floral displays. 


Further Information
Contact the Project Manager, Janna Glenn or Place Manager Activity Centres,Tanja Heil on 9209 6777, or email place@portphillip.vic.gov.au