Future Proofing Melbourne

The former Coalition Government's Plan Melbourne is currently being reviewed and modified. Plan Melbourne contained useful elements, but it failed to adequately address some key issues, was insufficiently directive, lacked performance measurements, placed too much reliance on market-driven decisions and insufficient emphasis on government leadership, was not integrated with transport planning; and failed to provide effective implementation mechanisms. This paper outlines important components for a revised metropolitan plan, with particular emphasis on integration of land use and transport, a focus on appropriate provision of rail-based passenger and freight transport, feeder bus services and encouragement of active personal transport - walking and cycling. Melbourne has reached a critical point in its history. It is undergoing rapid and transformative change from a city of four million towards one of eight million people by 2050. The major arterial roads and freeways are already at or near capacity. They cannot handle further very large increases in travel demand and adding road space simply induces more traffic and congestion. Incremental, uncoordinated, fragmented planning and decision-making and infrastructure implementation cannot properly serve an emerging mega-city. Without integrated planning, Melbourne will degenerate into dysfunction, with significant and unsustainable economic, social and environmental consequences and loss of international reputation and investment. Instead, the Victorian Government should develop a new strategic plan that progressively reshapes and re-balances Melbourne's urban form and provides much improved public transport.