Future Melbourne

Melbourne 2050: what kind of city are we building? In this final episode of the pilot season of Future Melbourne , we sit down with Lord Mayor of Melbourne Nick Reece to explore the big question at the heart of this series: what should Melbourne become by 2050? Following the City of Melbourne’s 2050 Summit and the release of its long-term vision, Liveable Melbourne, growing stronger together , thi...

Fishermans Bend is Australia’s largest urban renewal project, a vast stretch of land on Melbourne’s doorstep with the potential to reshape the city for generations. In this episode, we’re joined by Guy Naselli, president of the Fishermans Bend Business Forum and director of NSL Property Group, to unpack the reality behind the vision. From its proud industrial and manufacturing past to its ambitiou...

The Yarra River, or Birrarung, is Melbourne’s defining natural asset, but its future is shaped by far more than scenery alone. In this episode, we’re joined by Liz Joldeski, the new executive officer of the Yarra River Business Association, to discuss the river’s evolving role in city life. From its importance to First Peoples and the early settlement of Melbourne, through to the transformation of...

Lygon Street: can Melbourne’s Little Italy find its next chapter? In this episode of Future Melbourne , we sit down with Sergio Alderuccio, president of Carlton Inc., to explore the past, present and future of one of Melbourne’s most iconic streets. From its roots as the birthplace of Melbourne’s café culture to its golden era as a bustling hub of Italian life, food and celebration, Lygon Street h...

How safe is Melbourne’s CBD — and how much of the concern is perception versus reality? In this episode of Future Melbourne , we speak with Inspector Dale Huntington, Victoria Police’s Local Area Commander for Southbank and Melbourne East, about the evolving safety picture across central Melbourne. With crime and amenity becoming defining issues in recent years, this conversation takes a calm and...

Arden and Macaulay are two of Melbourne’s most important urban renewal precincts — but also two of its most contested. In this episode of Future Melbourne , we sit down with former City of Melbourne councillor, long-time Kensington resident and urban planner Rohan Leppert to unpack what’s at stake in the future of these fast-changing inner-city neighbourhoods. From the promise of Arden’s new Metro...

In this episode, we dive into one of the most pressing issues facing Melbourne — housing. From affordability and supply to planning, density and the role of government, the conversation around housing has become central to the future of our city. As Melbourne continues to grow, the challenge is not just building more homes, but building the right homes in the right places. Joining me today is Rob...

In this episode we’re heading to Melbourne’s waterfront and one of the city’s most debated neighbourhoods – Docklands.   Over the past two decades, Docklands has grown from former port land into a major urban renewal precinct now home to more than 18,000 residents, thousands of workers and some of Melbourne’s most recognisable waterfront spaces. But it’s also a place that continues to attract...

In this episode we take a closer look at the future of Melbourne’s CBD and the economic forces shaping it in the years since the pandemic.   Few cities in the world experienced the disruptions of COVID quite like Melbourne. Long lockdowns, changing work patterns and the rise of hybrid work have all reshaped how people use the city. Office vacancies remain high, foot traffic has shifted, and t...

Queen Victoria Market is one of Melbourne’s most recognisable landmarks — a place of fresh produce, family traditions, small businesses and civic history stretching back more than 145 years. But like much of the CBD, the market has been navigating a period of profound change. From a $268 million renewal program and the impacts of COVID, to shifting consumer habits and tensions around trader costs...