“Docklands Disease” spreading to Melbourne
Goldsborough "Lane" - Docklands Disease spreading to the historic Hoddle Grid
The media has been doing plenty of Docklands bashing of late, with a large number of cynical opinion articles on the problems experienced by the new development including this recent one “Melbourne Docklands a Precinct on the Edge“. It is no wonder as they have tuned into the fact that the public have a growing hatred and resentment for the Docklands, it’s developer centric planning regime, and the government’s tired optimistic rhetoric and refusal to take responsibility for failures. “Work in progress”, “Potential” and “Future tourist drawcard” are the sort of glib responses that roll off the politicians tongues.
Regardless of what the future may bring, what is of concern, however, is that developers are not only bringing elements and practices of Docklands development to Melbourne but accelerating plans. And for some bizarre reason unknown to me, the planning department of the State Government is keen to see it happen. The characteristic low-rise campus style buildings a and wide lanes, “artificially vibrant” modern architecture and 1960s style self-referential towers (see my post The Spirit of Melbourne’s Lanes – Lost in Translation) are popping up right throughout the hoddle grid. Recent examples are QV, Melbourne Central redevelopment, GPO extension, the corner of William and Bourke and now Myer and David Jones as well. And, as we have seen in the case of QV and the department store precinct, this has had a truly devastating effect on the heritage and human scale of the city. Whole blocks are being consolidated, swallowing groups of old buildings with them. A Waterfront City styled giant television set will replace the much loved art deco landmark Lonsdale House. Often the scale of these developments makes it impractical even to save the facades of buildings and the diversity and human scale of the city is lost and surrounding heritage buildings overwhelmed. Will the media react to the Docklandization of Melbourne ? Will it inspire a new appreciation for heritage, like we experienced in the early 1990s when postmodernism and facadism reigned supreme.
Make no mistake, in the past decade the government has committed to urban renewal in the CBD of a scale never seen before in the city’s history. Their “experimental” planning formulas has its roots in the 1960s, coincidentally when so much of Melbourne’s historic character was lost forever. But is it tried and proven, or a planning disaster. Do people really like it and has the community really been consulted ?
So the question must be asked, if Docklands style development is having a negative effect in Docklands, if it is like a disease or planning cancer, then what sort of net outcome can we expect for our great, international city and it’s historic heart ?
Is it too late to turn back for Docklands and is it too late to stop the rot of the CBD ?
I agree totally and I shake my head at this State Government and their planning strategies. Is Madden one of the most incompetent tools out there??? Docklands is just another – unfortunately a large – planning cock up that we’re all going to have to live with for a very long time.
Docklands is a soulless collection of poorly designed and cheaply built structures that does little to integrate into the city and water. For a planned development, it’s simply a joke.
I don’t think it’s too late to turn it into a desirable place. Narrow the streets, build something postmodern as there is nothing historical left, plant some decent trees, encourage mixed income living…. I could go on and on with what would could be done to make it a better place but until the powers that be realise what a mess it is and actually attempt to improve it, the area is a lost cause.