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Rehabilitating Maribyrnong Riverfront Rehabilitating Maribyrnong Riverfront | Monash University

Acknowledgment of Country We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land, the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung and Bunurong peoples of the Kulin Nation and pay respect to their elders, past, present, and emerging.

Source: Cedric Anggawan Rehabilitating Maribyrnong Riverfront | Monash University

Executive Summary Rehabilitating Maribyrnong Riverfront The Footscray Riverfront is home to a diverse, vibrant, and growing community. As the area continues to evolve, addressing the key issues that affect residents’ quality of life must remain a priority for Maribyrnong City Council. This report presents a clear vision and strategic framework to guide the transformation of the Footscray Activity Centre into a more liveable, connected, and inclusive destination. Grounded in more than 40,000 years of Aboriginal connection to Country, the vision recognises the enduring cultural significance of the Maribyrnong River to the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung and Bunurong peoples. It also supports Maribyrnong City Council’s ambition to enhance environmental quality while fostering a creative, diverse, and thriving community. The report seeks to tackle key challenges which impact the daily life of residents, including environmental degradation along the river, limited access due to car-dominant corridors in major arteries, and economic and

development pressures that arise from disorganised planning in the past. This report sets out a vision of what the Riverfront can be:

Improve Connectivity and Accessibility by strengthening transport links and creating safer, more accessible walking and cycling networks.

Deliver Sustainable and Affordable The Maribyrnong (IrringHousing by increasing housing gnarl-birr-nong) Riverfront is affordability while promoting a connected community which supports a wide range of lifestyles, cultures and fosters creative expression. The Riverfront is known for its greener landscapes and restored biodiversity whichcreates a welcoming environment for its residents.

With this in mind, the report provides a clear path for the Riverfront’s regeneration through four integrated principles that guide the proposal:

high-quality and environmentally sustainable development. Together, these principles establish a foundation for future planning interventions that will create a more liveable, connected, and resilient Footscray Riverfront.

Source: Carey, G (2026). Bunbury Street with a view of Melbourne CBD in the distance. [Photograph]. Personal Collection.

Source: Carey, G (2026). Hopkins Street and its vehicle dominance. [Photograph]. Personal Collection.

Source: Carey, G (2026). Maribyrnong Riverfront and the West Gate Tunnel. [Photograph]. Personal Collection.

Source: Carey, G (2026). Maribyrnong Riverfront and the old industrial train line. [Photograph]. Personal Collection.

Restore and Rewild the Riverfront by enhancing native vegetation, increasing tree canopy cover, and improving environmental resilience. Activate Culture and Community Life by creating vibrant public spaces that support community events, public art, and greater engagement with the river.

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Contents

01 02 03 Introduction

Date of Publication 17th of June 2026 Team Grace Carey Cedric Anggawan Shreya Bheemagouni Yuryi Oliynykiv

Context

Vision

04 05 06

Subject UPD4001 Planning Project 1: The Compact City

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Strategies & Actions

Implementation

References & Contributions

Source: Cedric Anggawan

Introduction

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01 Purpose of Document The purpose of this document is to determine a clear vision and a coordinated set of key strategies for a more liveable Footscray, with a specific focus on the Maribyrnong Riverfront Precinct as our focus area.

This document responds to that condition in four ways:

Footscray is one of the fastestchanging parts of metropolitan Melbourne. It carries deep multicultural and First Nations significance, sits at the centre of a designated activity centre, and faces sustained pressure for housing intensification, mixed-use redevelopment, and population growth over the next two decades. The Maribyrnong riverfront in particular is a strategic but underused asset. It has fragmented public access, limited cultural programming, weak physical and experiential connection between the river and the wider activity centre, and an industrial heritage character that is at risk of being lost as the precinct redevelops.

2. It identifies the strategic, statutory, and policy levers that can deliver that vision. This includes alignment with Plan for Victoria 2024, the Footscray Structure Plan, New Horizons: Creative Maribyrnong 2030, and the Integrated Water Management Strategic Directions Statement.

1. It sets a long-term vision for what a more liveable Footscray riverfront should look like and feel like. This vision is grounded in liveability principles including access, inclusion, cultural identity, environmental resilience, and active public life along the water.

3. It proposes a coordinated set of actions that move from shortterm tactical activation through to medium and long-term permanent transformation of the precinct. 4. It identifies clear delivery partners, funding pathways, and governance mechanisms so that the proposed actions are realistic, deliverable, and accountable.

Source: Carey, G (2026). The exterior of a terrace home on Bunbury Street. [Photograph]. Personal Collection.

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01 Project Brief

Our Client is Maribyrnong City Council While Maribyrnong City Council is our formal client, this project is shaped by a broader network of stakeholders, including government agencies, community groups, and local organisations. We recognise that successful renewal requires collaboration across government, industry, and the community. Key partners: • Victorian State Government • Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) • Melbourne Water • Environmental and Conservation Organisations • Residents and Local Community Groups • Traditional Owners • Local Business Owners • Developers and Property Investors • Department of Transport and Planning (DPT) • Transport and Cycling Advocacy Groups

Issues identified by the client: 1. Lack of multifunctional green spaces that support recreation, biodiversity, and everyday community use across the precinct. 2. Insufficient street tree canopy coverage, contributing the urban heat island effect. 3. Limited public access and connectivity along the riverfront. 4. Wide streets prioritising vehicles over pedestrians and bicycles. 5. Need for sustainable housing that integrates open space and community facilities. 6. Lack of affordable and diverse housing options to support a wide range of lifestyles and demographics. 7. Limited representation of local cultural identity and heritage in public spaces. 8. Insufficient flexible community spaces for recreation, gathering, and creative activities.

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Source: Carey, G (2026). Maribyrnong City Council Offices. [Photograph]. Personal Collection.

Source: Cedric Anggawan

02 Context

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02 Role of Footscray Activity Centre Footscray is a significant centre in Melbourne’s west, it acts like a regional gateway, linking the western suburbs back to central Melbourne and regional places too, such as Geelong. Its strategic position and transport infrastructure make it a goto place for work and study. Footscray has a big part to play in Melbourne’s polycentric setup, it sits in a wider web of major centres including Sunshine, Moonee Ponds, and Highpoint. Together this network provides jobs and services outside the CBD. This system allows a large network of people to access centres on the outskirts of the city and prevents overpopulation in one centre. On the local level, the Maribyrnong precinct contributes community services, small enterprises, public spaces, and different housing options. These aspects help reinforce Footscray’s multicultural character, supporting a lively, welcoming and diverse community.

Source: Victorian Government Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions. (2021). Footscray Regional Context Map. [Photograph]. Victoria State Government.

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02 Location of Footscray Activity Centre

The Footscray Activity Centre is a major activity centre located approximately 5 km west of Melbourne’s CBD. It serves as an important economic, cultural, and employment hub for Melbourne’s western suburbs. Access to rail, bus, and road networks supports a diverse range of residential, commercial, retail, and community activities within the centre. Footscray Market Yarraville Gardens Flemington Racecourse

Port Melbourne

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02 Importance of the Birrarung River Maribyrnong River Map

Prefabricated Building Keilor

Mari byrnong Overnewton and Gatehouse KEILOR

Friends of the Taylors Creek

Trestle Bridge KEILOR PARK

Keilor Hotel

Rive r

e Cre

KEALBA

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KEILOR NORTH

ele

For the Wurundjeri people, the Birrarung has long been a place of cultural, spiritual, and community significance. Traditionally known

Melbourne’s history also demonstrates how urbanisation, pollution, and river modification can negatively impact waterway health (Melbourne Water, 2026). As a result, development along the riverfront should seek to minimise environmental impacts by protecting water quality, vegetation, biodiversity, and habitat. Measures such as Water Sensitive Urban Design, native planting, and permeable surfaces can help improve ecological resilience while maintaining public access and connection to the river. By respecting the river’s environmental and cultural significance, the project can contribute to a more sustainable and resilient waterfront.

MELBOURNE AIRPORT

Ste

Figure 1 illustrates the extent of the Birrarung, which flows 242 kilometres from the Yarra Ranges to Port Phillip Bay. This project is located on the edge of the Birrarung demonstrating the broader importance of Melbourne’s river systems as environmental, cultural, and social assets. The river supports biodiversity, recreation, agriculture, and provides around 70 per cent of Melbourne’s drinking water (Melbourne Water, 2022).

as Birrarung, meaning “a place of mists and shadows”, it highlights the importance of recognising waterways as living cultural landscapes rather than simply physical resources. Similarly, the Maribyrnong River holds important cultural and ecological values that should be acknowledged throughout the planning and design process.

lor’s Ta y ek Cre

By acknowledging the cultural significance of waterways and protecting their environmental values, the project can contribute to a healthier and more sustainable riverfront that respects Country and future generations.

KEILOR EAST

ESSENDON WEST Friends of the Maribyrnong Valley

Kilometres

ABERFELDIE

AVONDALE HEIGHTS

Threatened fauna and flora Amphibians

Birds

Mammals

Water birds

Reptiles

Large nocturnal birds

Invertebrates

Fish

Bats

Marine mammals

SUNSHINE NORTH

Essendon Incinerator Complex MARIBYRNONG

MOONEEPONDS

ASCOT VALE

ETA Factory MAIDSTONE BRAYBROOK

Jack's Magazine

FLEMINGTON

Native flora species FOOTSCRAY

Other map symbols Community group

Maribyrnong River

Maribyrnong catchment

Other waterway

Victorian heritage registered site Symbols are representative of the types of features found within the surrounding area only. Symbols do not represent numbers, individual species or exact position of features.

KENSINGTON Henderson House and Saltwater River Crossing Site WEST MELBOURNE YARRAVILLE

Yarra R

iver

Port Phillip Bay

Figure 1: The Birrarung catchment and full river extent (source: Melbourne Water, 2022)

02 The DNA of Maribyrnong Riverfront

Source: Port of Melbourne. (2025). Port of Melbourne Publishes 30-Year Strategy for Port Development. [Photograph]. Port of Melbourne.

Source: Museums Victoria. (1930). Boatsheds and jetties on the Maribyrnong River. [Photograph]. Museums Victoria.

Port Melbourne Adjacent to the Riverfront

Previous Industrial Use of Maribyrnong River

The Maribyrnong River has long functioned as an important transport and trade corridor, shaping the development of Footscray and Melbourne’s western region. Historically, the river provided access for shipping and industry, linking local businesses to the Port of Melbourne and broader trade networks. The riverfront’s working waterfront character remains evident through wharves, industrial infrastructure, and views towards port-related activities. This connection to trade and movement forms an important part of the area’s identity and distinguishes the Footscray Riverfront from other urban waterfronts that have become primarily recreational spaces.

The Riverfront was a centre of manufacturing and industry throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Industries such as meat processing, tanning, chemicals, and manufacturing were attracted to the river due to its access to transport, water resources, and available land (Maribyrnong City Council, 2026). While many industrial activities have declined, their legacy remains visible through former factory buildings. This industrial heritage contributes to the area’s distinctive character and provides opportunities for adaptive reuse, interpretation, and regeneration that acknowledge Footscray’s working-class history while supporting new residential, cultural, and community uses.

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02 The DNA of Maribyrnong Riverfront Riverfront Vegetation and Landscape Character The existing vegetation contributes significantly to the identity of the Footscray Riverfront. Mature Peruvian Pepper Trees provide shade and create a distinctive landscape character along the river’s edge, while species such as Canna Lilies, Sea Lavender, Sea Figs, Hop Goodenia, and various succulents reflect the site’s informal planting. Together, these species create a landscape that is both ecological and recreational, softening the surrounding urban and industrial environment. The vegetation supports biodiversity, provides habitat, and enhances aesthetics while reinforcing the riverfront’s connection to nature. This established landscape character forms an important part of the site’s identity and offers opportunities for future revegetation and canopy expansion.

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Sea Lavendar

Canna Lily

Sea Fig Peruvian Pepper Tree

Hop Goodenia

02 Strategic Policy Context Plan for Victoria 2024 Plan for Victoria 2024 is a 30-year strategic framework that directs growth toward activity centres near public transport. It targets approximately 1.8 million new homes by 2051. Footscray sits at the centre of this vision. The plan identifies it as a priority location for housing intensification and mixeduse development. This is because Footscray already has strong rail and tram connections and an established commercial core. The framework encourages taller, denser buildings close to these transport nodes. It also supports a mix of housing types to accommodate a growing and diverse population.

Source: Victoria State Government. (2025). Plan for Victoria. [ScreenShot]. Victoria State Government.

Footscray Structure Plan 2014 The Footscray Structure Plan 2014 establishes the planning framework for the Central Activities Area through Activity Centre Zone Schedule 1. It promotes mixed-use development, housing intensification, affordable and student housing, and improved pedestrian connectivity along Barkly and Hopkins Streets. Since its adoption, the plan has guided the majority of development decisions within Footscray. However, more than a decade of significant change has eroded its relevance. Population growth, intensifying development pressure, and a worsening housing affordability crisis across metropolitan Melbourne have exposed the limitations of a framework designed under very different conditions. Note: this document is out of date and is currently being updated.

Source: Maribyrnong City Council. (2014). Footscray Structure Plan. [ScreenShot]. Maribyrnong City Council.

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02 Strategic Policy Context Maribyrnong Integrated Water Management Strategic Directions Statement The Maribyrnong Integrated Water Management Strategic Directions Statement, published in September 2018, provides a catchment-wide framework for coordinating water planning and management across the Maribyrnong river system. The framework recognises that climate change and rapid population growth are placing considerable pressure on water supplies, damaging waterways, and threatening ecological and human health, establishing a clear rationale for embedding water-sensitive outcomes within urban planning decisions. The framework argues that these challenges require water to be placed at the centre of the urban planning process, rather than treated as a secondary infrastructure concern. For Footscray, where housing intensification is actively planned under Plan for Victoria 2024, this has direct implications for built form, stormwater management, and open space design along the riverfront.

Source: Maribyrnong City Council. (2023). Integrated Water Management Plan 2023-33 [ScreenShot]. Maribyrnong City Council.

New Horizons: Creative Maribyrnong 2030 New Horizons: Creative Maribyrnong 2030 was endorsed by Maribyrnong City Council in April 2025 as the municipality’s guiding strategy for arts and creative industries. The strategy recognises a sector that contributes $639 million to the local economy and supports approximately 2,800 jobs, establishing a clear economic rationale for sustained investment in creative activity. It provides a policy foundation for nurturing and expanding this sector across the municipality, with particular attention to spatial clustering and precinct-based development. Of direct relevance to Footscray is the strategy’s identification of the Riverside Precinct as a designated location for creative industries. Source: Maribyrnong City Council. (2024). New horizons: Creative Maribyrnong 2030. [ScreenShot]. Maribyrnong City Council.

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02 Statutory Planning Context Victoria Planning Provisions There are many levels to the state planning policy for the Maribyrnong riverfront. Clause 12.03-1S of the Victoria Planning Provisions sets up the basic rules for river and riparian corridors. Clause 12.03-1R (Waterways of the West) looks at the whole catchment as a connected living system, including tributaries, wetlands, and billabongs. The Significant Landscape Overlay (SLO) is the most important tool for managing development. It sets permit requirements for land that is 50 to 200 meters from the top of the bank, whether it is public or private land. This protects riparian buffers, landscape character, and ecological function.

LEGEND Study Area Significant Landscape Overlay

Scale 1:9028 Source: Oliynykiv, Y. (2026). Map of Victoria Planning Provisions. [ScreenShot]. Victoria State Government.

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02 Statutory Planning Context Heritage Overlay The Footscray Community Arts Centre is the study area’s most significant heritage site. Originally built in 1872 as a bacon-curing facility, the bluestone buildings were repurposed as an arts centre in the 1970s. The site is protected by both a Victorian Heritage Register listing and a Heritage Overlay, requiring permits for any works. Development Plan Overlay The Development Plan Overlay requires an approved development plan before a planning permit can be granted on affected land. Within the study area, it applies to sites identified for transition from industrial to mixed-use development, particularly along the river’s edge where coordinated delivery of built form, open space, and access is required. Environmental Audit Overlay The Environmental Audit Overlay applies to former industrial sites within the study area, requiring environmental audits to confirm land suitability before redevelopment or residential use can occur.

LEGEND Study Area Development Plan Overlay Heritage Overlay Environmental Audit Overlay

Scale 1:9028 Source: Oliynykiv, Y. (2026). Map of Victoria Planning Provisions. [ScreenShot]. Victoria State Government.

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02 Key Attributes of Focus Area Footscray Wharf and Promenade Located along the Maribyrnong River in between Hopkins Street and Lyon Street, the Footscray Wharf winds along the side of the Maribyrnong River. The wharf was upgraded as part of the West Gate Tunnel project, with the former industrial wharf repurposed as a public park and recreation site. However the site has struggled to attract visitors despite its current facilites, leaving the public space underutilised. The site is also notable for its lack of plants for shade, creating an unpleasant experience for visitors during the summer. The plants chosen for the site are also not native to the area, with a large precence of palm trees along the river. Source: Anggawan, C. (2026). Maribyrnong Riverfront. [Photograph]. Personal Collection.

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02 Key Attributes of Focus Area Napier Street A major artery road which connects to Port Melbourne on the southside of the river with wide clearance of the road as a result of the roads former use as a major lane for freight traffic coming through and from the port. In recent years however most of said traffic has been diverted to the new West Gate Tunnel, leaving existing infrastructure mostly redundant and underutilised. The roads in this intersection has a notable lack of accessible crossings for residents, causing difficulty in accessing certain areas and creates a disconnect for local residents.

Source: Anggawan, C. (2026). The middle of napier street. [Photograph]. Personal Collection.

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02 Key Attributes of Focus Area Bunbury Street A suburban street located between the Rivefront and the CBD area via Footscray Station, Bunbury street mostly consists of small lots with single detatched housing. The street has seen some new developments in the area, particularly by the Riverfront, with more new apartments under construction where the street intersects with Whitehall Street, however the CBD side of the street has seen little change. Bunbury street has presented several challenges recently, particularly on walkability. The streets lacks any adequete canopy cover and does not provide residents with any crossings or signage t0 ensure safety for those crossing the street

Source: Anggawan, C. (2026). Bunbury street footpath. [Photograph]. Personal Collection.

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02 Indigenous Context Aboriginal people have lived in the Maribyrnong River valley for over 40,000 years, on the Country of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung and Bunurong peoples of the Kulin Nation, where the river was a vital meeting place, travel route, and cultural landscape. Despite colonisation, Aboriginal culture remains strong and ongoing (Maribyrnong City Council 2026).

Wurundjeri People The Wurundjeri People take their name from the Woiwurrung words ‘wurun’, meaning Manna Gum (Eucalyptus viminalis), and ‘djeri’, referring to the grub found within or near the tree along the Birrarung (Yarra River). They did not see land as something to own, but as something they belonged to, caring for it respectfully as it provided all essentials for life.

Bunurong Peoples The Bunurong Peoples are First Nations people of south-east Victoria, whose Country extends from the Werribee River to Wilsons Promontory, including areas such as Western Port Bay and the Mornington Peninsula. They are part of the wider Kulin Nation, sharing cultural and linguistic connections with neighbouring groups.

Source: Carey, G. (2026). Indigenous Land Boundaries. [ScreenShot]. VicPlan.

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02 History of Maribyrnong Precinct Wurundjeri men on the Birrarung River

The Saltwater River Crossing site

Footscray Railway Station

Source: Art Blart. (n.d). Birrarung River. [Photograph]. Art Blart.

Source: Carey, G. (2026). Saltwater River Crossing Site. [Photograph]. Personal Collection.

Source: Public Record Office Victoria. (n.d.). Saltwater River Crossing Site. [Photogrpah]. Personal Collection.

40,000 + years

1803

1839

Continuous Aboriginal occupation and cultural connection to Country

First recorded European exploration of the area by Charles Grimes

A punt crossing at Saltwater (Maribyrnong River) established it as a key transport point.

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Joseph Road

Old Footscray

Source: Historic Prints. (n.d.). Old Industrial Footscray. [Photograph]. Historic Prints. Source: Carey, G. (2026). New aprtments on joesph road. [Photograph]. Personal Collection.

Late

Post 1945

1980

Footscray develops into a major industrial center during Melbourne’s expansion

Large waves of European migration reshape the area

Diverse migration expands, especially from Asia and the Middle East

1800s

2000 Present

Urban renewal transforms Footscray into a dense, multicultural centre

02 Demographics The Riverfront is experiencing rapid gentrification, with an increasing concentration of highly educated residents and professional occupations compared to previous decades.

The Riverfront has experienced significant population growth since 2011, with further growth projected into the future (Victoria in Future, 2023). This increase in population has been accompanied by notable demographic change. Census data from 2021 indicates a substantial rise in the number of professionals, university-educated residents, and higher-income earners living within the Riverfront area. Reflecting this shift, Footscray residents now earn an average weekly income of approximately $1,763, exceeding the Victorian average of $1,565 and surpassing the state average for the first time in 2021. With this a majority of Riverfront residents are renters, now working mostly professional or managerial jobs, aged roughly in their 30s, with a massive influx of this demographic coming in within the last 10 years This has implications in that it likelyinduces displacement of older residents who have lived there for some time, as this demand and increasing new population might price them out of the suburb in the future.

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Total Riverside Population v Professional Workers (2011-2021) 350 0 30 0 0 250 0 20 0 0 150 0 10 0 0 50 0 0 20 11

20 21

Total P opulation

P rofessional W orkers

Riverside Dwelling Ownership (2021) 120 0 10 0 0 80 0 600 40 0 20 0 0 O wned outright

O wned with a mortgage (a)

R ented (b)

O ther tenure ty pe (c) 23

F The Southern Half consists of single detached housing with a lower average rent of $303 - $321 weekly

living in newer developments

02 Demographics 2021 Population

The Northern Half of the riverfront has higher-earning residents, consisting of majority university educated professionals living in newer developments

386

309

516 495

413 1073

Residents with Bachelor Degree or above

The Southern Half consists of single detached housing with a lower average rent of $303 - $321 weekly

60.00%

50.00% 40.00%

30.00% 20.00% 10.00% 0.00% Footscray

Source: Anggawan, C. (2026). Demographic data across Riverfront precint. [ScreenShot]. ABC Census.

2021 Population

Average Income per Household (2021) 309

$2,500.00

386 516

495

$2,000.00

$1,500.00

413 1073

The Southern half of the Riverside on the other side, we see a lower average income Residents with Bachelor Degree or above averaging at $1,575, with a lower percentage of professionals60.00% ranging from 31.8% to 36.6% depending on the the SA1 potentially explaining this divergence. This area also has 50.00% a lower average than the Melbourne Average. 40.00%

$1,000.00

$500.00 A

Rivefront Residents earn on average between 1,500 to 2,500 depending on their SA1. Those closer to the Northern Riverfront roughly $2,314 a week per household, higher than the Melbourne Average of $1,989, explainable by a largely University-Educated, Professional worker demogragphic which has in increased in the area since 2011 based on census data.

Lowest Riverfront SA1

Riverfront Average

Highest Riverfront SA1

Melbourne Average

Source: Anggawan, C. (2026). Average income. [ScreenShot]. ABC Census.

30.00% 20.00% 10.00%

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0.00% Footscray

02 Mircostory from Maribyrnong Riverfront Les Twentyman was born in 1948, grew up in Braybrook, and spent his life working for young people in Melbourne's west. He died in March 2024, aged 76. In 1989 he founded the Les Twentyman Foundation, which helped nearly 17,000 students stay in education. He walked the streets of Footscray and the Maribyrnong Riverfront not as a planner, but as someone who understood what it felt like to be forgotten by a city. Quote: “In life Les was never afraid to say what was needed to be said, he gave a voice to the voiceless and leaves a legacy of helping the disadvantaged and those in need that will live long past his extraordinary life”, The Les Twentyman Foundation. His story shaped this project in a direct way and is a reminder that revitalisation means nothing if it displaces the people it claims to serve. The activation proposals in this project are open, accessible, and community-facing because of that principle.

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Source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation. (2024). Victorian youth worker Les Twentyman dies aged 76 after dedicating years to social justice causes. ABC.

Source: Cedric Anggawan

03 Vision

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03 Vision

The Maribyrnong (Irring-gnarl-birr-nong) Riverfront is a connected community which supports a wide range of lifestyles, cultures and fosters creative expression. The Riverfront is known for its greener landscapes and restored biodiversity which creates a welcoming environment for its residents. Rehabilitating Maribyrnong Riverfront | Monash University

03 Strategies

Restore and Rewild the Riverfront

Enhance Riverfront Connectivity and Access

Activate Culture and Community Life

Deliver Sustainable and Affordable Housing

Re-establish the riverfront as a continuous, biodiverse corridor connecting the river to Bunbury Street. Prioritise native planting and canopy trees to enhance habitat and reduce runoff. Improve urban cooling while shaping a climate-responsive public landscape that balances ecological function with everyday use.

Strengthen pedestrian and cycling connections along the riverfront to create a safer, more accessible public realm. Improve links between residential areas, open spaces, and key destinations while supporting active transport and everyday movement.

Create vibrant public spaces that support community gatherings, cultural events, and everyday social interaction. Encourage active frontages, flexible open spaces, and opportunities for local art and recreation along the riverfront.

Encourage sustainable mediumdensity housing through the redevelopment of under-utilised sites and incentives for gentle density. Integrate shared community spaces between developments while maintaining 6–8 storey building heights to improve solar access and streetlevel amenity.

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03 Targets 2031 Introduction of activation events in the Riverfront

• Achieve at least 3 events held within community spaces in the Riverfront • Attendence will be used as benchmark for further progress

2041 Initial increase in housing supply within designated corridors • A 250% increase in registered dwellings in 2041 Census (Housing Phase 1) • Accumulated land covering 75% of targeted redevelopment sites

Initial eduction in car usage within the Riverfront District • A 10% reduction in recorded vehicle usage in Hopkin Street by 2041

2051 Increase urban canopy coverage within the Riverfront Precinct

• Achieve a 40% increase in tree canopy cover across the Riverfront Precinct by 2051 • Ensure all residents are located within 200m of shaded public open space or tree-lined streets by 2051

Further reduction in car usage within the Riverfront Precinct • A 20% reduction in recorded vehicle usage in Hopkin Street by 2051 • Car ownership reduced to below 40% in each SA1 by the 2051 Census Date.

Futher increase in housing supply within designated corridors

• A 350% increase in registered dwellings in 2051 Census (Housing Phase 2) • A reduction in average rent in Riverfront SA1s to below $300 (subject to changes over time) Rehabilitating Maribyrnong Riverfront | Monash University

Source: Cedric Anggawan

Strategies & Actions

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04 Key Issues & Challenges

1. 2.

Lack of multifunctional green spaces that support recreation, biodiversity, and everyday community use across the precinct. Insufficient street tree canopy coverage, contributing the urban heat island effect.

The area along Maribyrnong Street is currently underutilised. Recent improvements, including public toilets and an established metal arts studio, provide some activity, but the site remains limited in its full potential. Its strategic riverfront location presents an opportunity to create a more active public space that supports recreation, community engagement, and cultural expression (Maribyrnong City Council, 2026).

The recent upgrades to the site introduced palm trees to help shift the area’s character from industrial to recreational. However, community survey findings suggest that alternative planting strategies could better address existing environmental concerns (Maribyrnong City Council, 2024).

Limited urban tree canopy along the riverfront contributes to the urban heat island effect experienced in Footscray. Replacing or supplementing palms with Through additional landscaping, shade, seating, and public art, the site could become a more attractive pepper trees would increase canopy cover, reduce heat impacts, and improve the comfort and usability of public and functional destination, contributing to broader environmental and social outcomes while strengthening spaces (Maribyrnong City Council, 2026). its connection to the riverfront. Underutilised space with potential to combine housing, retail, and greenery.

Poor canopy cover due to palm tree dominance.

Source: Carey, G (2026). Empty and underutilised Maribyrnong street. [Photograph]. Personal Collection.

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1 pepper tree provides more canopy cover than 8 palm trees.

Source: Carey, G (2026). Peruvian Pepper Tree versus Palm Tree canopy tree cover on maribyrnong street. [Photograph]. Personal Collection.

04 Key Issues & Challenges

Wide streets prioritising vehicles over pedestrians and bicycles.

Limited public access and connectivity along the riverfront.

The street network within the Riverfront precinct prioritises vehicle movement. Much of the road space is dedicated to on-street parking and traffic, encouraging car dependency. The images below highlight this issue, showing a corridor focused primarily on transport. Cycling infrastructure, wider footpaths, and green buffers would improve the pedestrian experience and encourage active transport.

Although the Maribyrnong River is nearby, physical and spatial barriers make access challenging. Many key routes lack clear wayfinding, continuous active transport infrastructure, and welcoming public spaces that encourage movement toward the river. As a result, the Riverfront is a valuable natural asset that is not easily accessible from much of the precinct.

A major cause of this disconnect is Bunbury Street’s incline, which acts as both a physical and psychological Wide roads encourage higher vehicle speeds, while the lack of bike lanes increases conflict between road users. barrier. This limits access, reduces opportunities for economic activity, and prevents the Riverfront from Overall, the street hierarchy limits the potential for a connected, people-centred neighbourhood that supports functioning as a cohesive, connected, and accessible urban environment. healthier and more sustainable movement.

Vehicles prioritised on local corridors.

Harsh atmosphere that discourages pedestrian activity and cycling.

Source: Bheemagouni, S. (2026). The middle of bunbury street. [Photograph]. Personal Collection.

Rehabilitating Maribyrnong Riverfront | Monash University

Bunbury Street incline acts as a physical “severance point”.

Source: Bheemagouni, S. (2026). The middle of bunbury street. [Photograph]. Personal Collection.

04 Key Issues & Challenges

5. 6.

Lack of affordable and diverse housing options to support a wide range of lifestyles and demographics. Need for sustainable housing that integrates open space and community facilities.

Recent housing developments in the Riverfront have been catered towards a demographic with a higher income, making most new apartments unaffordable, with few options for residents of lower income to turn to, potentially causing displacement and gentrification. This is especially true closer to the Northern part of the Riverfront where There is a lack of affordable housing. The challange when delivering housing for the Riverfront will be to ensure that new developments are designed with affordability in mind so that all demographics are catered for and to avoid displacing those who cannot afford current rents in the area. High-cost, market-driven apartments do not support a diverse range of lifestyles and housing needs.

Source: Anggawan, C. (2026). Apartment block on Maribyrnong Riverfront. [Photograph]. Personal Collection.

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There is also a lack of any open community spaces for events or activities in the Riverfront as it stands, with most sites either being underutilised or unappealing to potential event coordinators. This makes it difficult to hold community events and draw in residents, as well as visitors, to connect with one another. The challange will be to ensure that any changes made to the Riverfront allows for more space which council or other organisations can use to hold events and social activites, encouraging socialisation between those that visit or reside there.

Limited community and cultural spaces reduce opportunities for creative and social activity.

Source: Anggawan, C. (2026). Recently built apartments located in the Riverfront precinct. [Photograph]. Personal Collection.

04 Key Issues & Challenges

7. 8.

Limited representation of local cultural identity and heritage in public spaces.

Insufficient flexible community spaces for recreation, gathering, and creative activities.

The Riverfront holds significant layers of cultural history, from the Wurundjeri peoples’ connection to the Maribyrnong River to the area’s industrial past and its long-standing role as a home for migrant communities.

Several ground-floor commercial properties along the precinct edge sit vacant or underleased, while large stretches of riverfront land remain inaccessible, poorly maintained, or cut off from the pedestrian network.

There are few markers, installations, or programmed spaces that acknowledge or celebrate it. Without deliberate cultural programming and heritage interpretation, revitalisation risks producing a generic waterfront that could belong anywhere.

These represent a missed opportunity for affordable creative, community, and recreational uses that could activate the riverfront and support local artists and organisations.

Underutilised space with potential for green community space

Source: Carey, G (2026). Vacant underutilised land on the edge of maribyrnong street. [Photograph]. Personal Collection.

Rehabilitating Maribyrnong Riverfront | Monash University

Vacant properties

Source: Carey, G (2026). Vacant space under apartments along napier street. [Photograph]. Personal Collection.

04 Strategy ~ Restore and Rewild the Riverfront Issues: • Lack of multifunctional green spaces across the precinct. • Insufficient street tree canopy coverage, contributing the urban heat island effect.

Actions: 1. Establish a Green River Corridor Establish a continuous vegetated corridor through coordinated street planting between Bunbury Street and the river. 2. Expand Urban Tree Canopy Plant native canopy trees at defined intervals (every 8–10m) across all streets and public spaces. vjv 3. Improve Stormwater Management Incorporate biofiltration infrastructure at the Bunbury Street– river interface to improve water quality. 4. Maximise Solar Access Maximise solar access to streets and open spaces through thoughtful vegetation and built form placement.

LEGEND Building

Enviromental Significance Overlay

Roads

Land Subject to Inundation Overlay

Foots

Public Park and Recreaton Zone

Maribyrnong River Public Realm Full Property view Railway lines Railway Station

Existing Trees Solar Access to Streets Proposed Pedestrianised Street/Biofiltration Native Canopy Trees

Contour Lines

Rehabilitating Maribyrnong Riverfront | Monash University

04 Case Studies Inspiration for Restore and Rewild the Riverfront Strategy

Source: Landezine. (2021). Riverside Green. [Photograph]. Landezine.

Source: Landezine. (2011). Houtan Park. [Photograph]. Landezine.

Source: Architizer. (2023). The RiverFront. [Photograph]. Architizer.

Source: Florian, M. (2023). Paris Reimposes the Ban on Skyscrapers After Tour Triangle Controversy. [Photograph]. ArchDaily.

Riverside Green Project, Brisbane, Australia

Houtan Park, Shanghai, China

The RiverFront, Omaha, USA

Paris Height Limits, Paris, France

The Brisbane Riverside Green Project demonstrates how riverfronts can be transformed into climate-responsive public spaces through extensive native planting, canopy trees, and flexible recreational areas. The project informed the proposal to restore and rewild the riverfront by prioritising biodiversity, increasing shade, and improving urban cooling. It also demonstrated how ecological infrastructure can be integrated with public recreation, creating a landscape that supports environmental resilience.

Houtan Park demonstrates how ecological restoration can be used to address urban environmental challenges while creating attractive public spaces. Through the use of terraced wetlands, native vegetation, and water-sensitive design, the project reduces stormwater runoff, improves water quality, and restores habitat along the river corridor. This precedent informed our masterplan to integrate natural systems into the landscape, using vegetation and landform to manage runoff, reduce erosion, and enhance biodiversity.

The RiverFront project illustrates how physical barriers between a city and its waterfront can be removed to create a more accessible and connected public realm. By raising sections of the site to street level and improving pedestrian circulation, the project transformed an isolated riverfront into an active destination. This precedent influenced the proposal to enhance riverfront connectivity through improved walking and cycling networks, stronger connections between neighbourhoods, and the creation of welcoming public environments.

Paris is known for its iconic aesthetic buildings. Between 1853 and 1870, Emperor Napoleon III and civic planner Baron Georges-Eugène Haussmann completely redesigned Paris, demolishing thousands of medieval slums to build modern, light-filled boulevards. This extensive urban renewal program transformed the once dark and unsanitary streets into the luminous “City of Light”. The precedent influenced the proposal to maintain building heights between 6 and 8 storeys, ensuring adequate solar access and creating comfortable public spaces.

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04 Action The Policy Behind the Integration of Actions For a riverfront redevelopment on council-owned land, several planning and policy considerations must be addressed to ensure alignment with local and state objectives.

The design seeks to activate an underutilised street end with public seating, canopy cover, and community facilities. Maintaining public access to the riverfront and preventing privatisation of views

is a key policy requirement. The site is also within heritage and significant landscape overlays, requiring careful consideration of cultural and environmental values (Zhou et al., 2019).

Overall, the project must balance increased housing, environmental protection, and public access to create a resilient and activated Riverfront.

The proposal must comply with the Victorian Planning Scheme, particularly in relation to building height, setbacks, overshadowing, overlooking, and neighbourhood character. As a six-storey mixed-use development, the increased density should support urban consolidation policies while maintaining residential amenity (Victorian Government, 2024). Given the riverfront location, environmental and flood-related controls are critical. Development must address flood risk, stormwater management, water quality, and protection of riparian ecosystems. Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) strategies, including permeable surfaces, rain gardens, and native planting, would improve resilience and ecological performance (City of Melbourne, n.d.). Source: Carey, G. (2026).

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04 Strategy ~ Enhance Riverfront Connectivity and Access Issues: • Wide streets prioritising vehicles over pedestrians and bicycles. • Limited public access and connectivity along the riverfront.

Hopki

Whitehall Street

1. Improve Public Transport Connections Integrate the proposed tram line along Hopkins Street as a catalyst for the connectivity.

Actions:

ns Stre

Bunbury Street

Wingfield Street

Cowper Street

Moreland Street

2. Deliver Universal Riverfront Access Prioritise safe, direct, and universal access along the Riverfront. 3. Enhance Walking and Cycling Connections Upgrade streetscapes with dedicated bike lanes and continuous nature strips. 4.Stregnthen Wayfinding Improve wayfinding and access points to the Riverfront from surrounding streets.

LEGEND Building

Scale - 1 : 5000

TRANSPORT

Roads

Existing PTV stops

Existing Bus lane

Footscray Study Area

Proposed Tram stop

Proposed new Tram lane

Maribyrnong River

Proposed New signalised pedestrian & bike lane access through intersection

Pedestrian & cycling Trail

Full Property view Railway lines

Proposed New Universal access along the riverfront

Proposed Upgrades in streetscapes with dedicated bike lanes.

Railway Station Rehabilitating Maribyrnong Riverfront | Monash University

04 Case Studies Inspiration for Enhance Riverfront Connectivity and Access Strategy the proposal that a tram line along Hopkins Street could strengthen connectivity, encourage sustainable development, and contribute to a more walkable, people-focused urban environment.

Source: Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3. (2026). Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3. [Photograph]. City of the Gold Coast.

will introduce a concrete apron at the Mitford Street and Dickens Street roundabout, along with raised humps on the approaches to encourage lower vehicle speeds and improve driver awareness (Port Phillip BUG Inc, 2026). Similar principles informed our proposed design, which incorporates legible crossing points, straightforward pedestrian connections from adjoining streets, and landscaped gateway treatments that help define the area.

Light Rail, Gold Coast, Australia The Gold Coast Light Rail demonstrates how a tram corridor can act as a catalyst for connected travel and transit-oriented development. The project has improved access between major activity centres and encourages higher-density mixed-use development around stations. Along the corridor, streets were redesigned with improved pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, creating a more active and accessible public realm (Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3, 2026). This case study supports

Source: Port Phillip BUG Inc. (2026). Funding for the safe bike lane on kerferd rd. [Photograph]. Port Phillip BUG Inc.

Future Street Upgrades, Port Phillip, Australia The Port Phillip road safety improvement project demonstrates how traffic-calming measures, improved intersection design, and clear visual cues can enhance safety, wayfinding, and accessibility for all road users. The project

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The redevelopment of Nørrebrogade demonstrates how streetscape improvements, including dedicated cycling lanes and continuous green infrastructure, can enhance urban liveability. The corridor was redesigned to include physically separated cycle tracks, tree-lined nature strips, and upgraded pedestrian facilities, while reducing space allocated to private vehicles (Frearson, 2012). This transformation created a safer, more comfortable, and highly accessible environment in which active transport is prioritised over car dependence. The project highlights how combining cycling infrastructure with continuous landscaping can transform a congested urban street into a greener, more attractive, and people-oriented public space, offering a relevant model for similar improvements along Bunbury Street.

Source: Frearson, A. (2012). Superkilen by BIG, Topotek1 and Superflex. [Photograph]. Dezeen.

Upgrading Streetscapes, Nørrebrogade, Denmark 39

04 Action Addressing Actions 2 & 4 Improved links between nearby streets and the riverfront will be made by integrating more pedestrian crossings, wayfinding signage, and access corridors that feel genuinely welcoming. In practice, this means the riverfront is easier to reach and the jounrey is less arduous, promoting individuals to walk or cycle rather than drive. This will allow the riverfront to become part of the urban fabric, connecting more closely with the surrounding city area.

Source: Bheemagouni, S. (2026).

Addressing Actions 1 & 3 The proposed tram line along Hopkins Street will improve connectivity by offering a dependable and fast public transport link between key destinations. It will reduce dependency on private vehicles and, at the same time, make it easier for residents, workers, and visitors to get around. Rehabilitating Maribyrnong Riverfront | Monash University

Source: Bheemagouni, S. (2026).

As a Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) catalyst, the tram corridor will promote higher density mixed use development, back local businesses, and help shape walkable neighborhoods. It also encourages more sustainable urban growth around transit stops, increases economic activity and liveability. 40

04 Strategy ~ Deliver Sustainable and Affordable Housing Issues: • Lack of affordable and diverse housing options to support a wide range of lifestyles and demographics.pedestrians and bicycles. • Need for sustainable housing that integrates open space and community facilities.

reet ns St Hopki

Bunbury Street

Cowper Street

Whitehall Street

Actions: Moreland Street

1.Affordable Housing Program Establish a housing redevelopment program that consolidates lots to facilitate the delivery of affordable housing. 2.Mid-Rise Density Reform Introduce Floor Area Ratio and Building Coverage Ratio reforms to support mid-rise development (6–8 storeys within a 4.2:1 ratio and 70% site coverage) in new developments. 3.Connected Riverfront Corridors Establish design guidelines to create more connected riverfront corridors, ensuring new developments integrate accessible, open community spaces.

LEGEND Building Roads Footscray Study Area Maribyrnong River Full Property view Railway lines Railway Station

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Building All Heights 0-4 4-8 8 - 12 12 - 16 16 - 20 20 - 24 24 - 28

Existing/ Approved Multi - Storey Development

Potential Upzoning Area = Housing Redevelopment Program (Phase 2)

Scale - 1 : 5000

Proposed immideate Redevelopment sites = Housing Redevelopment Program (Phase 1) Bunbury Redevelopment Corridor Riverfront Redevelopment Corridor Napier Redevelopment Corridor

04 Case Studies Inspiration for Deliver Sustainable and Affordable Housing Strategy Vienna Land Procurement Fund Our model is partially based on the system used by the City Government of Vienna, which established an Land Procurement Fund (Wohnfond) with the stated purpose roviding land for state-subsidised housing construction (Deutsch et al., 2012). This has allowed the government to acquire land at a a better value, allowing for a higher supply of social housing

Source: Cohen et al., (2025). Green Social Housing: Lessons from Vienna. [Photograph]. Climate and Community Institute.

This model of a council owned land bank in order to develop social housing could be beneficial for Footscray as it aims to increase its affordable housing supply, giving the council a mechanism to purchase land from smaller lots in an economical manner.

Central Melbourne Design Guide The Central Melbourne Design Guide developed by the City of Melbourne, which establishes urban design principles to ensure higher-density developments contribute positively to the public realm through active frontages, pedestrian prioritisation, quality open spaces, and human-scaled built form (City of Melbourne, 2021). This model of allowing councils to have control over aspects in the design of new housing developments in our case would allow the council to avoid issues in lack of open space or connectivity as we seek to create safe, walkable, and liveable neighbourhoods. Source: City of Melbourne. (2021). Central Melbourne Design Guide. [Photograph]. City of Melbourne.

South Melboure Floor Area Ratio Reforms In 2024, the City of Port Phillip introduced their reforms for Floor Area Ratio regulations in South Melbourne as part of their South Melbourne Structure Plan. This allows them to regulate the Floor Area and building heights in the area (City of Port Phillip, 2024). This method allows us to avoid issues in the Riverfront where new developments produce too much light pollution and do not prioritise the livability of the area its built in, while also encouraging a more efficient use of space for affordable and social housing. Source: City of Port Phillip. (2024). South Melbourne Structure Plan. [Photograph]. City of Port Phillip.

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04 Action viable affordable housing projects. Land consolidation would occur in two phases based on existing land uses and redevelopment opportunities.

1. Establish an Housing Redevelopment Program designed to Consolidate Lots to Develop Affordable Housing Consolidate land through the establishment of a Land Procurement Fund (Clearing House), which would purchase development rights from existing landowners and progressively amalgamate sites. These consolidated sites would then be sold to developers through publicprivate partnerships. The Clearing House would be managed by Council, which would seek funding assistance from the Victorian Government through programs designed to increase affordable and social housing supply. The program’s main priorities would be to: • Implement Change Incrementally: A phased approach would be adopted to minimise the displacement of long-term residents, allowing redevelopment to occur at a manageable pace while creating sites large enough to support

• Ensure Cohesion in New Developments: Key redevelopment corridors would be identified to guide consolidation efforts, ensuring new developments contribute to a cohesive urban form, maintain connectivity, and support the delivery of shared community infrastructure and public spaces. • Provide a Temporary Supply of Affordable Housing: Properties owned by the Clearing House that are awaiting consolidation would be leased on a temporary basis, providing a short-term supply of affordable housing and helping alleviate immediate housing pressures while sites are assembled for future redevelopment. This program would require cooperation from the Victorian Government to provide funding for

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land acquisition and consolidation through initiatives such as the Affordable Housing Investment Partnerships and the Victorian Property Fund (VPF). Additional funding could be sourced through agreements with private developers and rental income from temporarily leased properties; however, the majority of funding would likely need to come from State Government assistance.

Timeline Phase 1: Underutilised Commercial Lots The Clearing House will start with consolidation sites commercial lots deemed to be underutilised, with larger lot sizes making this an easier target for the short term, with less land needed to be consolidated.

Phase 2: Consolidated Residential Lots The Clearing House will simultaniously purchase smaller lots currently used as single detatched housing. Consolidating such small lots will take time and will vary depending on when current owners decide vacate and sell their current property. Due to this, the timeline for Phase 2 will take longer, with the project realistically taking between a minimum of 10-15 years to accumulate lots, and further 5-10 to develop them into affordable and social housing.

Several of these sites in the Riverfront struggle to find tenants and therefore would be better used for the construction of affordable housing, allowing for an increase within a closer timeframe of between 5-10 Years.

04 Action 2. Introduce Floor Area Ratio (FAR) and Building Coverage Ratio Reforms (BCR) to encourage Mid-Rise Density (6–8 storey within 4.2:1 ratio at 70% coverage) in new developments Introducing targeted Floor Area Ratio (FAR) and Building Coverage Ratio (BCR) reforms within redevelopment encourages mid-rise (6–8 storey) mixed-use housing along the riverfront. Sets a maximum FAR of 4.2:1¹ and a maximum Building Coverage Ratio (BCR) of 70%* to encourage midrise developments while allowing for setbacks, sunlight access, and public open space in new developments. Example: For a 20,500 m² site (such as the Bunbury Street Site A): Maximum floor area = 86,100 m² (4.2 × site area) Maximum building footprint = 14,350 m² (70% site coverage) Development distributed across approximately 6 storeys This allows for newer developments to empahsise walkability, community spaces, street activation*, while limiting light pollution and avoiding isolated high-rise towers.

3. Establish Design Guidelines Create More Connected Riverfront Corridors with New Developments that Accomodate Open Community Spaces

Encouraged Mid-Rise Denisty Ensures new housing developments have a balance between creating capacity in the housing market & limiting light pollution.

Establish Open Public Spaces Adequete space between buildings for use as public spaces for facilities such as community gardens, BBQ spaces, & other such facilities.

Establishing design guidelines to ensure new development contributes to a connected, accessible, and environmentally sustainable riverfront precinct, with Housing Redevelopment Program developments being required to provide: Walkability and Accessibility: • Create continuous pedestrian and cycling connections between residential areas, the CBD, and the Maribyrnong River. • Reduce physical barriers and improve urban permeability. Open Space: • Community gardens • Seating areas • Flexible event & activity spaces² Integrated Green Infrastructure: • Street trees • Native vegetation³

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Incorporate Accessible Connections Allow residents to walk to and from the riverside and the CBD area in a safe and accessible manner to discourage car usage.

Integrated Green Spaces Adding green space would allow for better canopy cover for residents, as well as promote sustainability in the area.

Designed with Blender 5.0

Timeline Phase 1: Consultation Existing residents and local stakeholders will be consulted in the process of developing the design guidelines, deciding on facilities, design choices, environmental impacts, etc.

Phase 2: Implementation Once the guidelines are set, any changes needed to be made in the precinct structure plan, local policies, etc. will be made to accomodate the new guidelines.

Phase 3: Delivery Once Action 1 is started, guidelines and FAR reforms will be incorporated in the new developments in the Riverfront as they are being built.

1. Subject to community feedback and revision 2. See Activate Culture and Community Life Strategy for more detail 3. See Restore and Rewild the Riverfront Strategy for more detail

04 Strategy ~ Activate Culture and Community Life Issues: • Limited representation of local cultural identity and heritage in public spaces. • Insufficient flexible community spaces for recreation, gathering, and creative activities.

et ns Str e

W hitehall Street

1. Activate Underutilised Spaces Activate two underutilised riverfront sites as retail and community spaces to increase everyday use, economic activity, and public engagement.

H opk i

Moreland Street

2. Celebrate Multicultural Identity Deliver annual artist-led events that celebrate and embed Footscray’s multicultural identity into the riverfront. 3. Embed Public Art Integrate commissioned murals, sound installations, and artistled spatial interventions along the riverfront corridor.

Wingfield Street

Actions:

Bunbury Street

Cowper Street

02 01 03

LEGEND

4. Activate River Recreation Establish a kayak rental terminal and revitalise an underutilised vessel as a recurring river-based event.

Building

Pier

Roads

Trail

Footscray Study Area

Community Arts center

Maribyrnong River

BBQ

Full Property view

Community Space

Scale - 1 : 5000

Railway lines Railway Station Rehabilitating Maribyrnong Riverfront | Monash University

04 Case Studies Inspiration for Activate Culture and Community Life Strategy De Ceuvel Creative Hub, Amsterdam, Netherlands De Ceuvel is a community-led creative and sustainability hub located on a former shipyard in Amsterdam-Noord. It opened in 2014 on a heavily polluted canal-side site, leased from the city for ten years. A collective of architects (space&matter), artists and entrepreneurs repurposed retired houseboats as a low-cost alternative to full soil remediation. The boats were lifted from the water and placed on land to function as low-impact studios for creative practitioners. The site also includes a café, event space, and a floating bed-and-breakfast moored on the canal (I am Amsterdam, 2025). The site uses phytoremediation plants to clean contaminated soil over the lease period. It operates off-grid systems for water and energy, and hosts a rotating program of cultural events, workshops and artist residencies. Source: I am Amsterdam. (2025). Cafe De Ceuvel. [Photograph]. I am Amsterdam.

Artist Community Bay, Berlin, Germany Rummelsburger Bucht is a sheltered bay on the River Spree in eastern Berlin, known for its long-standing artist community and creative shoreline (Hamiduddin & Gallen, 2016). The area developed organically from the 1990s onward, as artists, musicians and alternative cultural communities occupied an underused post-industrial waterway on the edge of the former East Berlin. Today it hosts experimental art installations, small cultural venues and a community of musicians, alongside public swimming spots and walking paths around the bay (May, 2023).

Source: Evernest. (2022). Wohnen und Leben in Berlin Rummelsburg. [Photograph]. Evernest.

Rehabilitating Maribyrnong Riverfront | Monash University

The bay operates under a regulated framework managed by the Berlin Senate, which balances cultural use, ecological protection of the shoreline, and public access to the water. Cultural programming includes open-water swimming events, small concerts on moored vessels, experimental sound and light installations, and seasonal art interventions along the promenade. 46

Source: Oliynykiv, Y. (2026).

Rehabilitating Maribyrnong Riverfront | Monash University

Source: Cedric Anggawan

Implementation

Rehabilitating Maribyrnong Riverfront | Monash University

05 Implementation Guide •

Restore and Rewild the Riverfront

• • • •

Enhance Riverfront Connectivity and Access

• • •

•

Activate Culture and Community Life

• • •

• • Deliver Sustainable • and Affordable Housing

Action

Type

Staging

External Stakeholders

Establish a continuous green corridor connecting the river to Bunbury Street. Plant native canopy trees at defined intervals (every 8–10m) across all streets and public spaces to achieve a minimum target canopy cover. Integrate biofiltration systems to reduce urban runoff where Bunbury St meets the river. Maximise solar access to streets and open spaces through thoughtful vegetation and built form placement.

Regulate & Invest

Short-term

Invest

Mid-term

Invest

Mid-term

Regulate

Short-term

Department of Transport and Planning Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action Melbourne Water Traditional Owners Landscape architects Urban planners Maribyrnong City Council

Advocate

Short-term

Regulate & Invest

Mid-term

Advocate, Regulate & Invest

Mid-term

Regulate

Short-term

Activate two identified underutilised riverfront sites as retail and community spaces. Deliver annual artist-led events that celebrate and permanently embed Footscray’s multicultural identity into the riverfront. Integrate commissioned murals, sound installations, and artistled spatial interventions to strengthen cultural engagement along the corridor. Establish a rental kayak terminal and revitalise the existing underutilised vessel as a recurring event space on the river.

Invest

Long-term

Advocate

Short-term

Advocate & Invest

Mid-term

Invest

Short-term

Establish an Urban Renewal Program designed to Consolidate Lots to Develop Affordable Housing Establish Design Guidelines to Assure Cohesion and Design Quality for a More Connected Corridors in the Riverfront Implement Floor Area Ratio Reforms to encourage Mid-Rise Density (6–8 storey) in New Developments

Invest & Regulate

Long-term

Regulate

Mid-term

Regulate

Long-term

Integrating the proposed tram line along Hopkins Street as a catalyst for the connectivity. Prioritise safe, direct, and universal access along the riverfront area. Upgrade streetscapes with dedicated bike lanes and continuous nature strips. Improve wayfinding and access points to the riverfront from surrounding streets.

Rehabilitating Maribyrnong Riverfront | Monash University

Department of Transport and Planning Public Transport Victoria Cycling advocacy groups Disability advocacy Local community Maribyrnong City Council

Creative and cultural collectives Community groups Urban planners Local business Maribyrnong City Council

Department of Families, Fairness and Housing Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action Homes victoria Community Housing Providers Private Developers Maribyrnong City Council

05 Catalyst Masterplan Bunbury Street–Maribyrnong Riverfront Catalyst Masterplan

Cowper St

Whitehall St

Napier St

No Entry

Parker St

ns St

Hopki

Wingfield St Apartments/Retail/Public Space

Tennis Court

Riverfront Boat Tour

Pop-up Market

Steps

Kayak Rentals Future Footscray Community Arts

Trees

Rehabilitating Maribyrnong Riverfront | Monash University

Moreland St

05 Photo: Existing Bunbury Street The current street design creates physical and visual barriers, weakening connections between surrounding neighbourhoods and reducing opportunities for community engagement.

Source: Bheemagouni, S. (2026). The footpath on bunbury street. [Photograph]. Personal Collection.

The corridor prioritises cars over pedestrians and cyclists, creating an environment that lacks vibrancy and human activity.

Source: Bheemagouni, S. (2026). The middle of bunbury street. [Photograph]. Personal Collection.

The absence of safe and continuous cycling facilities discourages active transport and limits accessibility for cyclists. Rehabilitating Maribyrnong Riverfront | Monash University

The current sidewalk has an adequate amount of greenery with opportunity for benches and recreational spaces.

Source: Bheemagouni, S. (2026). The footpath on bunbury street. [Photograph]. Personal Collection.

Large areas of the street are dedicated to vehicle parking rather than peopleoriented uses, resulting in inefficient use of valuable public space.

05 Section: Bunbury Street Before

Source: Bheemagouni, S. (2026).

36.17m

The Bunbury Street corridor is currently dominated by extensive and largely unnecessary onstreet parking, prioritising vehicle storage over people and public space. Expansive asphalt areas, unshaded nature strips, and industrial fencing create a fragmented and inhospitable environment. The lack of cycling infrastructure and the separation caused by parked vehicles contribute to a low-quality streetscape that discourages walking, cycling, and social activity.

Rehabilitating Maribyrnong Riverfront | Monash University

05 Section: Bunbury Street After Transform Bunbury Street from a vehicle-dominated corridor into a green, peoplefocused urban avenue by repurposing underutilised on-street parking spaces into dedicated cycling lanes, wider and more accessible footpaths, and high-quality public open spaces. Introduce street trees, landscaping, and community gathering areas such as parklets to soften the harsh, asphalt-dominated environment and create a more comfortable and attractive streetscape. By prioritising active transport and public life over vehicle storage, the proposal aims to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety, strengthen connections between surrounding neighbourhoods and activity centres, encourage social interaction, and establish a vibrant and distinctive identity for Bunbury Street as an inclusive and sustainable urban corridor.

Source: Bheemagouni, S. (2026).

30.5m Rehabilitating Maribyrnong Riverfront | Monash University

Source: Carey, G. (2026).

Rehabilitating Maribyrnong Riverfront | Monash University

05 Photo: Existing Riverfront Existing palm tree plantings provide insufficient canopy cover, resulting in limited shade and reduced thermal comfort for users along the riverfront.

There is a limited provision of seating and passive viewing areas, reducing opportunities for people to sit, rest, and engage with views of the river.

The river is currently underutilised, with strong potential to support recreational activities such as kayaking and rowing, which are not yet formally provided for in this section.

There is minimal interpretive or educational signage, with opportunities to enhance engagement through species identification and ecological information along the river edge.

Source: Carey, G (2026). Maribyrnong Riverfront. [Photograph]. Personal Collection.

Sections of the river edge show areas of dead or degraded grass, reducing the overall visual quality and ecological health of the riverside landscape.

Rehabilitating Maribyrnong Riverfront | Monash University

05 Section: Riverfront Before This section illustrates the existing conditions along Maribyrnong Street, including an established metal arts studio, BBQ area, and shared path. While the precinct currently supports some level of activity, the adjacent vacant land remains underutilised despite its strong potential for more intensive and meaningful public activation. The Footscray Community Arts Centre has been planned, with construction expected to commence soon, which will likely contribute to increased activation of the area. However, the precinct still does not adequately cater for higher levels of public use, and the introduction of additional retail and community-focused green space could provide significant benefits for the Footscray community.

Existing Street Section Scale: 1:200

Source: Carey, G. (2026).

80.57 m Waterside Metal Art

Vacant Land

Rehabilitating Maribyrnong Riverfront | Monash University

Waterside Metal Art Studio

Road

BBQ Area

Path NS

Wharf 56

Parker St

Napier St

Wingfield St

05 Section: Riverfront After

Whitehall St

The proposed design reimagines this precinct as an active, mixed-use riverfront destination. Informed by precedents such as the Brisbane Riverfront, the proposal introduces six-storey apartments to increase residential density. At ground level, retail and community functions are integrated leading to increased community engagement. This space connects to a green outdoor public pavilion that provides café and library services. Overall, the proposal consolidates strategies of riverfront rewilding, activation, and housing delivery into a cohesive precinct that strengthens both ecological and social performance.

Moreland St

No Entry

Proposed Street Section Scale: 1:200

Source: Carey, G. (2026).

Apartments/Retail/Public Space Riverfront Boat Tour Steps Trees

80.57 m Housing & Shops

Library & Coffee Shop

Rehabilitating Maribyrnong Riverfront | Monash University

Waterside Metal Art Studio

Open Space

Path Green Foreshore

Kayak Rentals 57

Source: Carey, G. (2026).

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05 Reflections We can layer environmental restoration, sustainable housing, increased connectivity, and community activation into a single precinct. We are not just solving a sitespecific issue but we are creating a blueprint for an approach that achieves liveability and housing targets.

Source: Anggawan, C. (2026). Indigenous artwork outside Maribyrnong City Council offices. [Photograph]. Personal Collection.

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Source: Cedric Anggawan

References & Contributions

Rehabilitating Maribyrnong Riverfront | Monash University

06 References • ArchDaily. (2023). Paris reimposes the ban on skyscrapers after Tour Triangle controversy. https://www.archdaily.com/1002165/paris-reimposesthe-ban-on-skyscrapers-after-tour-triangle-controversy • Architizer. (2023). The RiverFront [Photograph]. https://architizer.com/projects/the-riverfront/ • Australian Broadcasting Corporation. (2024, March 30). Victorian youth worker Les Twentyman dies aged 76. https://www.abc.net.au/news/202403-30/victorian-youth-worker-les-twentyman-dies-aged-76/103651146 • Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). QuickStats: Footscray (SAL20935). https://www.abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2021/ SAL20935 • Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). QuickStats: Maribyrnong (LGA24600). https://www.abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2021/ LGA24600 • Bunyan, M. (n.d.). Aboriginal cricketers at Coranderrk. Art Blart. https://artblart.com/tag/aboriginal-cricketers-at-coranderrk/ • City of Maribyrnong. (2014). Footscray Structure Plan. https://www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/Building-and-Planning/Planning-Services/Current-andfuture-planning/Planning-Scheme-Amendments/Recently-determined-planning-scheme-amendments/Planning-Scheme-Amendment-C125 • City of Maribyrnong. (2025). New Horizons: Creative Maribyrnong 2030. https://www.yourcityyourvoice.com.au/creativity-strategy • City of Melbourne. (n.d.). Water sensitive urban design. https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/water-sensitive-urban-design • Cohen, et al. (2025). Green social housing: Lessons from Vienna [Photograph]. Climate and Community Institute. https://climateandcommunity.org/ research/vienna-green-social-housing/ • Domańska, M. A. (2025). Warszawa kreśli plan na Wisłę. https://www.portalsamorzadowy.pl/inwestycje/warszawa-kresli-plan-na-wisle-to-nieprzypadkowe-projekty,624298.html • Evernest. (2022). Wohnen und Leben in Berlin Rummelsburg [Photograph]. https://www.evernest.com/de/leben-in/deutschland/berlin/berlin/ rummelsburg/ • Frearson, A. (2012). Superkilen by BIG, Topotek1 and Superflex [Photograph]. Dezeen. https://www.dezeen.com/2012/10/24/superkilen-park-by-bigtopotek1-and-superflex/ • Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3. (2026). Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3 [Photograph]. City of the Gold Coast. https://www.gclr3.com.au/goldlinq/gclr3 • Hamiduddin, I., & Gallent, N. (2016). Self-build communities: The rationale and experiences of group-build (Baugruppen) housing development in Germany. Housing Studies, 31(4), 365–383. https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1472242/3/Group%20Build%20Paper_Final_11%20July%2015. pdf • Historic Prints. (n.d.). Footscray. [Photograph]. Historic Prints. https://www.historicprints.com.au/unrestored/footscray • Landezine. (2011). Shanghai Houtan Park by Turenscape. https://landezine.com/shanghai-houtan-park-by-turenscape/ • Landezine. (2023). Riverside Green by Hassell. https://landezine.com/riverside-green-by-hassell/ • Landezine. (2025). The Riverfront by OJB Landscape Architecture. https://landezine-award.com/the-riverfront-by-ojb-landscape-architecture • Maribyrnong City Council. (2026a). Aboriginal Maribyrnong. https://www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/Community/Discover-Maribyrnong/Our-historyand-heritage/Aboriginal-Maribyrnong

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06 References • Maribyrnong City Council. (2026b). The history of Footscray and surrounds. https://www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/Community/Discover-Maribyrnong/ Our-history-and-heritage/The-history-of-Footscray-and-surrounds • May, J. (2023). Berlin offers a model for flood resilience. City Monitor. https://www.citymonitor.ai/analysis/berlin-offers-model-how-cities-can-copeincreasingly-regular-extreme-floods-3355/ • Melbourne City Council. (2021). Central Melbourne Design Guide [Photograph]. https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/design-and-construction-standards • Melbourne Water. (n.d.). Maribyrnong River. https://www.melbournewater.com.au/water-and-environment/water-management/rivers-and-creeks/ maribyrnong-river • Melbourne Water. (2020). Biofiltration systems in development services schemes guidelines. https://www.melbournewater.com.au/building-and-works/ developer-guides-and-resources/standards-and-specifications/biofiltration • Melbourne Water. (n.d.). Stormwater management: Raingardens. https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/raingardens • Planning Victoria. (2013). Regional Rail Link: Chapter 5 Implementation Part 2. https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0028/630667/ ROR-Chapter-5-Implementation-Part-2.pdf • Port Phillip Bicycle User Group. (2026). Funding for the safe bike lane on Kerferd Road [Photograph]. https://haveyoursay.portphillip.vic.gov.au/futuresouth-melbourne • Port Phillip City Council. (2024). South Melbourne Structure Plan [Photograph]. https://www.portphillip.vic.gov.au/media/npens2x0/smsp_structure_ plan_report_final_draft.pdf • Public Record Office Victoria. (n.d.). Photowall. https://prov.vic.gov.au/photowall • Urban Wildlife Institute. (n.d.). Designing for biodiversity: The role of urban planning. https://urban-wildlife.org/designing-for-biodiversity-the-role-ofurban-planning • Victorian Government. (2018). Maribyrnong Integrated Water Management Strategic Directions Statement. https://www.water.vic.gov.au/__data/ assets/pdf_file/0026/674630/maribyrnong-catchment-strategic-directions-statement-2018.pdf • Victorian Government. (2024). Footscray precinct. https://www.vic.gov.au/footscray-precinct • Victorian Government. (2024). Middle Footscray (including Seddon) Activity Centres Program. https://engage.vic.gov.au/project/activity-centresprogram/page/middle-footscray-tottenham • Victorian Government. (2024). Plan for Victoria. https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/planforvictoria/about-plan-for-victoria • Victorian Government. (2024). Priority precincts. https://www.vic.gov.au/priority-precincts • Zhou, W., Pickett, S. T. A., & Cadenasso, M. L. (2019). Sustainable urban planning and biodiversity conservation. Sustainability, 11(13). https://www.mdpi. com/2071-1050/11/13/3723

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06 Contributions Cedric Anggawan

Grace Carey

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A Series of Photos of The Site Executive Summary Targets Page Key Attributes Demographics Key Issues and Challenges Deliver Sustainable and Affordable Housing: Strategy Page • Deliver Sustainable and Affordable Housing: Case Studies • Deliver Sustainable and Affordable Housing: Actions • Input for Catalystical Masterplan

Shreya Bheemagouni • • • • • • • •

Acknowledgment of Country Role of Footscray Activity Centre Key Issues and Challenges Enhance Riverfront Connectivity and Access: Strategy Page Enhance Riverfront Connectivity and Access: Case Studies Enhance Riverfront Connectivity and Access: Actions Bunbury Street Photo Annotations Bunbury Street Sections

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Template Formatting Contents Brief Importance of Birrarung River The DNA of Maribyrnong River Vision Page Strategy Page Indigenous Context History Key Issues and Challenges Restore and Rewild the Riverfront: Strategy Page Restore and Rewild the Riverfront: Case Studies Restore and Rewild the Riverfront: Actions Implementation Table Catalyst Masterplan Bunbury Street Collage Riverfront Photo Annotations Riverfront Sections Riverfront Collage Reflection References

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Statutory Planning Context Mircostory from Focus Area Key Issues and Challenges Activate Culture and Community Life: Strategy Page Activate Culture and Community Life: Case Studies Activate Culture and Community Life: Actions Input for Catalystical Masterplan

AI Acknowledgment We acknowledge the use of ChatGPT (https://chat.openai.com/) to assist in refining the academic language and accuracy of the final text. In addition, on the 17th of June ChatGPT assisted with ordering and checking our references.

Yuriy Oliynykiv • Purpose of Document • Strategic Policy Context

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Planning Project 1: Maribyrnong Riverfront Final Report