With our population set to significantly increase over the coming decade it is important to ensure that our streetscapes are prepared for future growth and are safe enjoyable places for people.
The City of Melbourne has introduced the Streetscape Framework(External link) which aims to work with businesses and the community to effectively respond to the changing needs of our streets.
A number of streetscape improvement projects are planned for each upcoming financial year. You can view each year's past projects in the Key projects section below.
Key projects
- Royal Lane, between Little Collins and Bourke Streets
- Flinders Street, between Swanston and Exhibition Streets
- Stewart Street, between Franklin and A’Beckett Streets
- Lonsdale Street, between Swanston Street and Caledonian Lane
- William Street, between Little Collins and Collins Streets
- Collins Street, between Spencer and King Streets
- Westwood Place. Lighting works and road resurfacing brought a little love to this access lane.
- Brights Place, Healeys Lane and Crombie Lane. This important pedestrian connection between Flagstaff Station and Bourke Street was strengthened as part of the wider Connecting Laneways project.
- Literature Lane and Little Latrobe Street. An innovative ‘leveling’ treatment retained the heritage character of this lane whilst improving the pedestrian environment to complement future events, tours and activities associated with Melbourne’s role as a City of Literature.
- Elizabeth Street, between Little Bourke and Lonsdale Streets. Upgrade asphalt footpath to bluestone paving.
- Spencer Street, between Flinders Lane and Collins Street. Works to improve station access and upgrade the pedestrian environment through bluestone footpaths, stainless steel seat, bins and bike racks and improved access for people with a disability.
- Elizabeth Street, between Little Latrobe and Latrobe Streets. Upgrade asphalt footpath to bluestone paving.
- Lonsdale Street, between Russell and Swanston Streets. Major road works saw the replacement of the central median, access to an electricity supply for local events and resurfacing of the road, all in time for the Lonsdale Street Festival (part of the popular Antipodean Festival).
- Little Collins Street. The footpath between King and Spencer streets was widened to more safely accommodate the many commuters using Southern Cross station, particularly at peak times. New bluestone paving, seats, bike racks and additional trees - watered using a Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) treatment - made the street more attractive for residents, businesses and visitors.
- Somerset Place. Home to residents, businesses and artisans, this laneway was transformed through a local traffic treatment which prioritises pedestrians over vehicles and opens up opportunities for outdoor dining and laneway activation. A rain garden and native Cabbage Palms – the first of their kind to be planted in the central city – complete the transformation.
- Derby Street, Kensington. Intersection works to improve road safety at the corner of Derby and Ormond streets was the first improvement as part of a broader streetscape masterplan for the local area.
- Bromby Street, South Yarra. Repairing root damage to the footpath and underground drain provided the opportunity to maximise green space and create better growing conditions for the street’s magnificent Plane trees to ensure they remain in good health into the future. When we discovered a tight tangle of tree roots just below the road surface, we used an innovative and non-destructive hydro blasting technique instead of a conventional approach which could have damaged the roots and perhaps proved fatal to the mature trees.
- Collins Street. Streetscape improvements in this busy commercial hub saw the footpath between William and Queen streets upgraded to bluestone while access for people with a disability was improved and the latest Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) technology was used to help existing and new trees to flourish.
- Elizabeth Street. Works between Lonsdale and Little Lonsdale streets saw asphalt footpaths replaced with bluestone paving, seats, bins and bike racks upgraded to stainless steel and access for people with a disability improved through ramps and crossings which meet the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act.
- Collins Street. In the busy hub of Collins Street, between Elizabeth and Queen streets, the footpath was de-cluttered by relocating or replacing existing benches, bins and bicycle parking, and the pavement was upgraded to improve the pedestrian environment and provide access ramps for people with disabilities.
- Harris Street, North Melbourne. The entire length of Harris Street, between Curzon and Errol streets North Melbourne, received an upgrade, including renewal of the roadway, footpath and drainage, and landscaping of the area.
- Ridgway Place. The streetscape improvements in this unique central city laneway widened the bluestone footpath to provide a pleasant area for people to walk and to sit and enjoy the outdoor café.
- Elizabeth Street. Elizabeth Street, between La Trobe and Little Lonsdale streets, received new bluestone footpaths and street furniture.
- Flinders Lane. The busy retail hub of Flinders Lane was enlivened by expanding the footpaths and replacing the old street furniture and lighting. New trees were also planted to add to the lane’s character.
- Elizabeth Street. Through the Streetscapes Framework, the City of Melbourne made improvements in Elizabeth Street to allow better day and night time lighting. Skylights and lights were installed in the verandas to brighten up the area.
