Council will now commence a formal road discontinuance process. If supported the project will advance to construction, with the start date set based on Council priorities and resource availability.

Project updates will be provided through the MacKenzie Street Greening Participate Melbourne website. Select the blue 'Follow' button at the top of the Project overview page to receive email updates.

A road discontinuance involves a statutory process under the provisions of the Local Government Act 1989 (LGA). This includes a public notice which invites submissions (comments) in regard to the proposed road discontinuance. Following the community engagement and hearing of any submissions, a report will be presented to Council to consider whether or not the Road is reasonably required for public use and the suitability of the discontinuance.

If the road discontinuance process is approved, the road status will be removed. The land will no longer be known as a road and the status will revert back to land. The land ownership will also revert back to the Crown. The Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action has approved “in-principle” support to the road discontinuance at MacKenzie Street and the land being reserved for public purposes in accordance with the Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978 with Council appointed as Committee of Management.

To create the Greening MacKenzie Street small urban park at the Victoria Street end of MacKenzie Street, the roadway will require reconfiguration and discontinuance.

Two one-way entry points from Victoria Street into MacKenzie Street will be removed to create a small park of 400 square metres with amenities such as seating, bike parking, a lawn, feature trees, and garden beds, this is the area proposed for discontinuance.

The existing one-way road that exits MacKenzie Street onto Victoria Street will be expanded to accommodate two lanes of traffic, enabling east and west-bound access to be maintained.

Road discontinuance results in the road being no longer classified as a road and protects the proposed use as open space.

The location and number of car parking places are indicated on the Greening MacKenzie Street Proposal.

There will be a reduction of three metered car spaces to accommodate the proposed greening at MacKenzie Street.

Although parking numbers will be reduced for the introduction of a small park, the works completed in December 2023 on the corner of MacKenzie and Victoria Street’s resulted in the removal of redundant cross-overs and a gain of three car spaces on Victoria Street.

We have consulted with our Transport Engineering team and the Greening MacKenzie Street proposal maintains the existing function with two way traffic flow and access to all properties.

The Greening MacKenzie street proposal addresses the evolving needs of Melbourne CBD’s changing residential and worker population by enhancing the quantity, quality and accessibility of public green spaces.

The project aims to cater to the community’s requirements while minimising the impact of a changing climate.

A petrol station at the intersection of MacKenzie and Victoria Street was removed in 2021. There are currently two entry points into MacKenzie Street from Victoria Street, which are only approximately 20m apart.

By removing one of the now two entry points on Victoria Street this presents an excellent opportunity to repurpose a section of MacKenzie into a small park, without impacting on vehicle or bike access.

Urban Forest Strategy - MacKenzie Street has been identified as a priority planting street in the Central City Urban Forest Precinct Plan 2013-2023, a key implementation tool of the Urban Forest Strategy. This proposal introduces an additional 21 trees.

Open Space Strategy 2012 - The Greening MacKenzie Street proposes to create additional and increased access to public green space.

Nature in the City Strategy - The Greening MacKenzie Street proposes to increase understorey plants on land managed by the City of Melbourne.

Transport Strategy 2030 - By reducing pedestrian crossing widths the proposed changes proactivity facilitate a permeable street network.

The Urban Forest Strategy aims to increase canopy cover across the City and ensure there is a healthy and diverse tree population that contributes to the health, wellbeing and comfort of the City’s residents and visitors. One of the key targets within the strategy is to increase the canopy cover of Melbourne’s public realm to 40 per cent by 2040. Small street greening projects take us progressively closer to achieving this goal

The Council endorsed urban forest precinct plan documents are a key implementation tool of the Urban Forest Strategy, providing a framework for tree planting in streets that will meet the Urban Forest Strategy targets.

Our Urban Forestry team have worked closely with the community and key stakeholders to generate these plans to provide the basis for the street tree planting program that is consistent with neighbourhood character, the community’s vision for the future urban forest, and the principles of the Urban Forest Strategy.

The precinct plans help to guide implementation of the urban forest strategy in Melbourne’s streets. The information provided in the plans direct the annual tree planting program to achieve urban forest strategy objectives, protect and enhance neighbourhood character, and to prioritise works and budgets within each precinct. Each plan identifies priority streetscapes for tree planting and specific direction is provided on the selection of appropriate trees for the precinct.

Community consultation with the central city community on the Central City Urban Forest Precinct Plan 2013-2023 indicated a preference for trees that would provide large, arching canopies over streets. Trees that would provide colour and seasonal interest were also preferred.

The species selection was guided by the Urban Forest Strategy and the Central City Urban Forest Precinct Plan 2013-2023.

The proposed tree species have been chosen as they are considered well-adapted and resilient to changing climatic conditions, creating shade, providing visual appeal and increasing amenity, as well as contributing to the diversity of the urban forest.

The proposed tree species are indicated in the Greening MacKenzie Street Proposal (page 9).

Construction of the Greening MacKenzie Street project is estimated to take approximately six months to complete. Construction will commence following the completion of the design and awarding of the works.

During construction, there will be managed noise and some access disruption at times. We will proactively inform residents and businesses about these disruptions in advance, working with you and our contractors to handle any detours, road closures, and to control construction noise and dust.

Our aim is to minimise disturbance throughout the construction period as much as possible.