Boomers drive recrafting of mutligenerational waterfront park community
LONDON: Boomers are driving the recrafting of a multigenerational waterfront park community in the heart of the city.
Construction of Melbourne’s new waterside Melbourne park will officially start on Thursday.
Development of “Seafarers Rest” – a 3500sqm public park by the Yarra River – is expected to provide better pedestrian and bike links as well as lawns connecting the river promenade via new pathways.
It will include a play area for children and families, green space, dog-friendly access and seating on the north bank of the Yarra River.
The park, to be completed later this year, is a part of developer Riverlee’s restoration and redevelopment of the heritage-listed Goods Shed No. 5 into a new precinct to be home to 114 hotel-branded homes and 277 hotel rooms.
The park, part of Riverlee’s $600m Seafarer’s precinct, will also form a key part of the city’s Greenline Project.
Riverlee development director David Lee said the construction of the park was the final piece in the urban renewal of the Seafarers precinct.
“Seafarers Rest and the broader precinct marks a transformative milestone in the rejuvenation of Melbourne’s Northbank,’’ he said.
“Together with the City of Melbourne, we’re revitalising this under-utilised and forgotten urban space, reclaiming it as a safe and vibrant green haven for all Melburnians and visitors to enjoy.
The park will be located between The Mission to Seafarers heritage building and Seafarers Bridge, which connects the north bank to South Wharf.
It will tap into maritime history of the area with rope swings, timber seating styled on shipping crates and use of artefacts from the Offshore and Speciality Ships Association.
Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp said a groundbreaking of the park site on Thursday would be an important step towards transforming the north bank of the Yarra River.
“The Greenline Project will transform Melbourne’s riverfront from Birrarung Marr to the Bolte Bridge – while creating thousands of jobs, attracting waves of new visitors, and injecting millions of dollars into the economy,’’ she said.
“Riverlee’s investment is a huge vote of confidence for this city-shaping project and the future of Melbourne.’’
