Flinders St Overpass/ Fish Market

peter_j

The Melbourne Times reports today that the $9M demolition of the Flinders St overpass will start next month, to permit redevelopment of the Fish Market site, and extension of the Aquarium. It won't be complete until 2007, kind of missing the Commonwealth Games target. In fact the Finders St West trams will be out of action during the games. Also intended for completion before the Games are the refurbishment of the Sandbridge Bridge and the Banana Vaults area - both projects moving ahead rather quietly if at all.

"The project is expected to be finalised by 2005, so that crowds can flock to the north and south banks of the Yarra in time for the Commonwealth Games in the following year." Mary Delahunty October 2002

The cost of the overpass demolition is meant to be offset by the sale of the Yarra North Bank area to the tender winners, Oceanis Aquariums and the Far East Investment Group. But the demolition is "contingent upon the preferred tenderer achieving financial close based on the sale of [35,000 sqm of] apartments." Hmmm. When the apartment boom puttered out in 2003, the developers switched to offices instead. The developers have since failed to meet deadlines, according to The Age, and it is likely that the State Government is bankrolling the demolition now.

Oceanis and Far East intends to have art studios facing on to what remains of Batman Park, loads of apartments (or offices), and includes a "2,500 square" extension of the Aquarium that BRIDGES over Kingsway. You take one down, then put another up?.

Not quite sure what they intend to do with the elevated train line adjacent, sort of gets in the way you'd think.


Major Projects press release 2003
Major Projects press release announcing winners, Jan 2003
Major Projects press release announcing demolition, April 2005
Butter Paper May 2002
Artist's Impression after demolition - not showing trains..