Response of the Victorian Government to the IDC Report on Governance of Melbourne Docklands The Government’s Response to the Report of the Docklands and Adjacent Areas Interdepartmental Committee
Having received and given careful consideration to the report of the Interdepartmental Committee (IDC) it commissioned to provide advice on options for the long term governance of the Docklands and adjacent areas, the Government’s responses to the recommendations made by the IDC are:
IDC Recommendation One
The IDC recommended that the Docklands area and municipal functions, with the exception of statutory planning, be restored to the City of Melbourne.
The Government’s Response – the recommendation is accepted, with the timing of the restoration of the municipal governance of the Docklands area to the City of Melbourne to occur prior to the Melbourne City Council municipal elections in November 2008.
IDC Recommendation Two
The IDC recommended that there be no boundary changes between the City of Melbourne and the Cities of Port Phillip and Maribyrnong.
The Government’s Response – the recommendation is accepted.
IDC Recommendation Three
The IDC recommended that mechanisms be established between the State, the City of Melbourne, the City of Port Phillip and the City of Maribyrnong for the integrated planning and management of Fishermens Bend industrial precinct and the current docks, rail and market precinct.
The Government’s Response – the recommendation is accepted. IDC Recommendation Four
The IDC recommended that, until the State is satisfied that its interests in the Docklands area are secure, the current planning arrangements with the Minister for Planning as the Responsible Authority and the Docklands Authority, now VicUrban, as the Referral Authority, be retained until a time to be determined.
The Government’s Response – the recommendation is accepted.
IDC Recommendation Five
The IDC recommended that a coordinating body consisting of the State Government, Parks Victoria, the City of Melbourne and the Docklands Authority, now VicUrban, be established to oversee the planning and management of the Docklands waterways and waterfront.
The Government’s Response – the recommendation is accepted.
IDC Recommendation Six
The IDC recommended that it be retained to oversee the implementation of the Government’s decisions on the governance of the Docklands and adjacent areas.
The Government’s Response - the recommendation is accepted. In addition, the Government will require the IDC to prepare advice on the option of extending the responsibilities of the new place management coordinating body (see Recommendation 5) to management of the waterways and waterfront, from the Bolte Bridge to the Punt Road Bridge.