Elwood Foreshore Redevelopment

The Elwood foreshore is an important and valued place in our City. Locals and visitors enjoy it all year round. It is home to 12 clubs and associations, a restaurant, a wellness centre and cafe, and a kindergarten.

What is the ask?

Council requests that the Victorian Government and Australian Governments partner on Elwood Foreshore Redevelopment to co-fund the project.

What is the issue that this initiative will address?

Buildings and other infrastructure have been built over the years to support a range of activities that happen in the area. Many now need large amounts of work due to their age, poor condition, compliance and accessibility issues and vulnerability to the risks of climate change.

What is Council proposing?

City of Port Phillip is proactively planning for its renewal, in a staged process over several years to ensure the foreshore remains a high-quality public and natural place. Through the redevelopment Council is seeking to replace aged infrastructure, improve compliance and accessibility issues, and address risks of climate change.

Council has developed a Elwood Foreshore site plan that considers Elwood Foreshore as a whole, rather than looking at each building or structure in isolation. Our goal is to ensure all buildings and structures work well together to improve the Elwood foreshore experience to better meet the evolving needs of our community.

Any future works at Elwood Foreshore will:

• protect the character, identity and amenity of the place
• respect nature and the history of the site
• reflect local priorities, future needs, and Council and Victorian Government policy and strategy.

Delivering the site plan will be broken down into stages over a 10-year timeframe. Each stage will include a more detailed design, and application process that includes community consultation.

How does initiative align with the Council Plan and Victorian/Australian Government priorities?

Council:

City of Port Phillip Council Plan 2021-31: Liveable Port Phillip A City that is a great place to live, where our community has access to high quality public spaces, development and growth are well-managed, and it is safer and easy to connect and travel within.

• We will provide a funded plan for Elwood Foreshore Redevelopment by 2021/22 and delivery of major public space projects including:
  • Bay Trail Public Space Lighting by end of 2021/22
  • Luna Park and Palais Forecourt by end of 2022/23
  • Gasworks Arts Park by end of 2023/24 (completion subject to budget allocation).
• We will facilitate and advocate for Australian and Victorian Government funding to support delivery of new and upgraded infrastructure and public spaces in our City

City of Port Phillip Council Plan 2021-31: Inclusive Port Phillip - A City that is a place for all members of our community, where people feel supported and comfortable being themselves and expressing their identities.

• We are working towards Port Phillip being a place where people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities can access services and facilities that enhance health and wellbeing through universal and targeted programs that address inequities.

The redevelopment is consistent with the outcomes identified within the Elwood Foreshore and Recreation Reserves Management Plan, as well as Foreshore Management Plan and the Open Space Strategy.

Victorian Government

The redevelopment project aligns with several Victorian Government strategies, including:

• Cooling and Greening Melbourne
• improve landscape connectivity
• build resilience to climate change.
• protecting existing green spaces
• creating new opportunities for urban greening
• improving water-sensitive urban design
• Victorian Coastal and Planning goals
• Planning Practice Note 53: Managing coastal hazards and the coastal impacts of climate change
• Planning for Sea Level Rise - Guidelines - Port Phillip and Westernport Region, Melbourne Water.

Australian Government

The redevelopment project aligns with several Australian Government strategies, including:

• Urban Sustainability: Importance of community infrastructure and utilities
• Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Disaster Resilience: Ensure Australia is resilient to changing climate
• Urban Connectivity: improving active transport

How does the initiative assist the community to recover from COVID-19?

The Elwood Foreshore attracts visitors from across the State and is increasingly becoming a more popular event and tourist location, including for triathlons and sailing regattas. The redevelopment to the foreshore would increase tourism to the area and provide more sustainable and accessible infrastructure together with improved active transport routes.

Cost and current status?

Cost

The project is estimated to cost $50 million over approximately 10 years.

Status

Council has prepared a master plan to guide development of the site. This flows from initial community consultation and a suite of technical studies – including flora and fauna, climate change impacts, soil conditions, heritage and landscape heritage.