INTRODUCTION 04 PubliC Streets, lanes, arcades, bridges This section of the Plan and overpasses are defined as includes the following: public streets and routes in this strEEts Plan. Waterfront promenades Public streets and and creek corridor are defined routes overview as public spaces in this Plan. Overview of context and and rouTES directions that inform the The recommended principles design principles and and guidelines apply to all recommended design publicly accessible routes in guidelines for public streets Docklands regardless of and routes in Docklands. ownership status. This Plan All background information advocates for the refinement of is summarised and mapped Docklands Has A PErmEablE, materials and furniture palettes in Appendix 2. in the Docklands area to ensure WEll-connECTED NETWork consistency with the central Desi gn principles city streetscape qualities. and guidelines OF public roUTES. Recommended design Streets make up a significant guidelines to achieve portion of the public realm in comfortable and seamless Docklands. As well as catering streets and routes. Design for various forms of movement, principles and guidelines streets and routes provide in Docklands accord with space for incidental cafes, Melbourne’s existing kiosks, seats and canopies that streetscape design policies. contribute to public life. Streets These established policies and routes are and should be support identifiable and treated as important public consistent design standards places. Streets contribute to the and diverse and active character of place and can be public life. destinations in themselves. Des ign check lists An illustrative example of design principles applied to a primary street, a summary of street design reference documents and sample of a detailed illustrative street standard from the companion document, Docklands Design and Construction Standards for Public Infrastructure Works (City of Melbourne, 2012). Note: Images in this document are provided for illustrative purposes only and are subject to change. Base maps require periodic review and revision to accord with current conditions in the built environment and revised proposed development Residential streets and lanes at Yarra’s Edge. plans and masterplans. DOCKLANDS PUBLIC REALM PLAN 04. Public streets & routes 077 STREETS AND ROUTES OVERVIEW INTroducTion Melbourne’s central area (known as the Hoddle Grid) dates back to 1837 and spans an area 2 km in length and 1 km in width. Although grid plans are common to many cities, Melbourne’s grid is highly stylised in its scale and formal geometry, giving the city centre a pervasive individual character. The formal grid of primary (30 m width) and little streets (10 m width) is divided by a network of intimate, pedestrian- scaled lanes and arcades. Several of the 30 m wide east-west city streets (Collins, Bourke, La Trobe and Dudley Streets) extend across the Spencer Street railway lines, linking the central city to Docklands. Laid across these is a less regular array of new secondary streets in Docklands. Generally, these cross-streets occur at more frequent intervals and are 16-18 m in width. As a result, Docklands has a permeable, Revitalised Swanston Street, Melbourne. well-connected network of public routes. Since the 1980s, a number of initiatives have led to substantial improvements in the quality of street environment and street life in the central city. Physical improvements have included footpath widening, upgrading paving to local bluestone, a lighting strategy, a ‘signature’ street furniture palette and a cafe furniture standard. Special initiatives to improve street life include the rejuvenation of priority laneways, lunchtime street closures and permanent laneway closures and an active edges policy. The positive effect of these policies is evident in the growing numbers of people enjoying the central city streets as documented in the ‘Places for People’ studies. This Plan recommends that Melbourne’s distinctive and high standard of streetscape Freeway/arterial roads design is applied throughout Docklands. Domain tunnel Primary streets Possible future connection Bourke Street Mall, Melbourne. Fig 4.01 Inner Melbourne arterial road and street network, 2012. DOCKLANDS PUBLIC REALM PLAN 04. Public streets & routes 079 STREETS AND ROUTES OVERVIEW Access Docklands: A Plan for the • Bourke Street pedestrian overpass is a poor gateway to Docklands due to level changes, North Melbourne Docklands Transport Network Train Station inadequate shelter, poor signage, inadequate To Errol Street, North Melbourne Access Docklands: A Plan for the Docklands cycling infrastructure and inactive streetscapes. To Dynon Road Transport Network (Places Victoria, City of Dudley Street - • Wayfinding and signage at Docklands can Link to Queen Victoria Market Melbourne with UrbanTrans, 2012) includes be confusing. & Flagstaff Gardens comprehensive baseline data and a range of Moonee Ponds Creek Future E-Gate important future strategic directions and actions • Poor crossings (wait times, competing use, Trail Site for Docklands regarding water and land-based environment) at key parts of walking and Latrobe Street movement in Docklands and should be cycling networks in Docklands. - City to referenced. Access Docklands supports the Harbour link • Significant walking distances within the principles outlined in this Plan and Transport Dockland area can be exacerbated by large Strategy Planning for Future Growth (City of staircases, a lack of shelter, passive ground Lonsdale Melbourne, 2012). Street floor uses and lack of interesting street life. Melbourne Port The following is a summary of the main The Access Docklands: A Plan for the Bourke challenges identified inAccess Docklands: Docklands Transport Network (Places Victoria, Street A Plan for the Docklands Transport Network City of Melbourne with UrbanTrans, 2012) has (Places Victoria, City of Melbourne with identified a number of short, medium and Collins UrbanTrans, 2012). long-term recommendations to address these Street challenges and a short-term action plan. • Forecast growth in population will place significant demands on transport Flinders infrastructure networks. This Plan provides design guidance to improve Street the overall quality of public streetscapes to Lorimer Street • Wurundjeri Way is the primary local access benefit pedestrians and cyclists. Northbank road for Docklands, yet it is also a major Promenade east-west arterial route carrying significant volumes of traffic. Seafarers Bridge • Walking, cycling and public transport connections between Docklands and areas to the north, south and west are poor. To South Melbourne • Rail infrastructure, arterial roads and the stadium represent barriers to movement Ingles Street between Docklands and the surrounding areas. To Port Melbourne/Albert Park • The Docklands local road network has limited Key future through connections, as much of the precinct connections is surrounded by water, Melbourne Port land Existing connection uses, rail infrastructure and arterial roads. Potential new connection • Sustainable transport and walkability Committed connections options may be challenged by unfavorable Level changes conditions such as full tram capacity at peak times, poor climatic conditions, and unprotected streetscapes. Fig 4.02 Exi sting and potential local connections, 2012. DOCKLANDS PUBLIC REALM PLAN 04. Public streets & routes 081 DESIGN PRINCIplES AND GUIDELINES 1. DivErsiTY OF usE Provide a range of street types to support Docklands streets have been arranged into different uses and contribute to a functional, four types: vibrant and high quality street network. • arterial roads The pedestrian experience will be enhanced by • primary streets P e providing streets that vary in scale and diversity; a r l • secondary streets R Footscray Road i v from large through to a more intimate human e r R io ervat n Driv o bs e • small streets and pedestrian areas. a scale. Varying scales can assist legibility and d O Way S Waterfront wayfinding by visually reflecting the different ta r Circus Each type of street is understood and Dudley Street roles of different streets. It also adds interest Waterfront Way Saint Mangos Ln. Little Docklands Drive and a variety of experiences. Small streets in described within the context of its role, function, The Arcade scale, character and the type of public space Pearl River Road particular can assist connectivity and Studio LaneWharf St. Star Cres. La Trobe Street permeability of the urban fabric. it contributes to the Docklands public realm. Aquitania Way Caravel LaneSt. Mangos La. Palmyra Way Waterfront promenades are included in the Doepel Way Rakaia Way Public Space section of this Plan (page 23). Docklands Drive Pearl River Road Wurundjeri Way Harbour Esplanade e rs S u tad co ium Con Bourke Street Enterprize Way Merchant St. Village St. Cumberland St. Waterview Walk Geographe St. Collins Street Batmans Hill Dr. Hill Batmans Import La. Rebecca Hubbuck La. Encounter Way Way Navigation Dr. Merchant St. Aurora La. Harbour Esplanade (South) Seafarer La.. Karlsruhe La. Georgiana St. Batmans Hill Dr. Keera Way Flinders Street Mc Crae St. Navigation Dr. Docking La. Foundry Way Portal La. Barring Mews Wurundjeri Way Stokehold Mews South Wharf Dr. Canal Mews Po int P a rk C Lorimer Street r e s . Arterial road (Footscray Road) Primary street (La Trobe Street) Swinging Basin La. Ferryman La. Eighteen Pence La. Cargo La. Arterial road Primary street Secondary street Small street and pedestrian area