St Kilda Triangle Redevelopment
The contents of this page have been archived. This represents Council’s advocacy position prior to the 2022 State and Federal elections.
For updated information on any of these projects, please contact Council.
The St Kilda Triangle, currently a large aging carpark adjacent to the recently rejuvenated Palais Theatre, presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create something unique and special to Melbourne. The 2016 St Kilda Triangle Masterplan outlining Council and the community's agreed future vision for the development of the site is yet to be delivered.
What is the ask?
Council requests the Victorian and Australian Governments to partner with us and co-fund the delivery of the St Kilda Triangle Redevelopment project.
What is the issue this initiative will address?
The St Kilda Triangle presents a unique development opportunity as one of Melbourne’s last bayside renewal sites. While important to Port Phillip, in its current form as a carpark it is underutilised, unappealing and is not serving the community as a public space on the foreshore to achieve its full potential. St Kilda is a key destination for Melburnians and visitors, known for its foreshore, beach, night life, live music scene, restaurants and festivals. This part of Melbourne has always embraced cultural innovation, pushed social boundaries and is a key part of the City’s cultural footprint.
Council engaged with the community, government and industry and developed the 2016 St Kilda Triangle Masterplan. This masterplan proposes a vibrant social and cultural precinct to complement the Palais Theatre and Luna Park – a precinct of uses and activities that recognises and supports St Kilda’s continuing contribution to the vibrancy of Melbourne and Australia.
The masterplan proposes just under 20,000 square metres of landscaped public open space including the Palais Forecourt, a plaza facing Jacka Boulevard, carpark spaces and built form to accommodate a hotel, other uses that support activation of the site and complement the surrounding features, and some form of cultural centre.
Due to a lack of funding the St Kilda Triangle masterplan remains undelivered. Council is looking to reinvigorate this opportunity and deliver key components of it to release the benefits for Victoria.
What is Council proposing?
Council is advocating for the Victorian and Australian Governments to invest in:
- a financial and technical feasibility assessment, which are important to test the currency of the various elements of the masterplan in terms of market response (including which elements and how they should be delivered) and the environmental and social context
- a process to engage the community and other key stakeholders on the next steps of the project
- a delivery strategy, including a market sounding exercise
- completion of a business case for investment
- development of design guidelines
- a planning scheme review and amendment process
- a procurement planning exercise followed by a tender process to deliver elements of the masterplan in accordance with the delivery strategy and design guidelines
- delivery of the elements of the masterplan in accordance with the delivery strategy.
How does this initiative align with the Council Plan and Victorian/Australian Government Priorities?
Council
The St Kilda Triangle project aligns with the five strategic directions of the 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
- 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
- Sustainable Port Phillip – a City that has a sustainable future, where our environmentally aware and active community benefits from living in a bayside city that is greener, cooler, cleaner and climate resilient
- Vibrant: - a City that has a flourishing economy, where our community and local businesses thrive, and we maintain and enhance our reputation as one of Melbourne’s cultural and creative hubs
- Well-Governed Port Phillip – a City that is a leading local government authority, where our community and our organisation are in a better place as a result of our collective efforts.
Victorian Government
Council’s intent is consistent with the Victorian Government’s objectives and initiatives to:
- revitalise and activate significant and much-loved Victorian public spaces for sustainable uses by the community
- create short-term and long-term employment opportunities
- boost tourism and generate a new wave of economic and social benefits for the state and the community, while creating a great place to experience
- supporting the important and vibrant Melburnian hospitality and arts sectors.
Australian Government
Council’s intent is consistent with the Australian Government’s objectives and initiatives to:
- create short-term and long-term employment opportunities
- boost tourism through creating a destination within a world-renowned Australian locality
- generate a new wave of economic and social benefits that benefit not only the state but the nation.
How does this initiative assist the community to recover from COVID-19?
- creates short-term and long-term employment opportunities
- supports local and state-based businesses, particularly those that have struggled most during the pandemic
- attracts visitors and tourists to the area for a diverse activity while providing an opportunity to stay and explore not only St Kilda but Melbourne
- fosters community connection and collaboration
- provides open public spaces with infrastructure to support various outdoor experiences, and indoor experiences that enable greater social distancing.
Cost and current status?
Cost
Initial estimates indicate costs in the order of:
- feasibility, planning, community and stakeholder engagement, business case, design guideline development and procurement phases – approximately $1.2 million (subject to detailed cost analysis)
- delivery (detailed design and construction) – subject to the steps detailed above and a detailed feasibility and cost analysis exercise.
Status
What stage is the project up to?
- commencing a financial and technical feasibility exercise to test the currency of the various elements of the masterplan in terms of market response and the environmental and social context
- undertaking a planning exercise to engage the community and key stakeholder about the next steps
- reviewing the requirements for a planning scheme amendment.