A “green oasis” is coming to Roden St in 2025

The greening of West Melbourne’s Roden St is one step closer to reality after City of Melbourne councillors unanimously voted to discontinue part of the street at its September 3 Future Melbourne Committee (FMC) meeting. 

According to the council, construction is expected to begin in early 2025 and will take around six months.

The project, which was unanimously endorsed by the council in October 2023, will add 1000 square metres of trees and grass to a section of the street between King and Spencer streets.

Lord Mayor Nick Reece described it as a “green oasis.” 

“We know how important green open space is to the community. West Melbourne residents have told us loud and clear they want more green gardens to enjoy,” Cr Reece said. 

Part of the council’s North and West Melbourne Urban Forest Precinct Plan, the Roden St project will increase plant biodiversity, enhance stormwater retention and make the streetscape more pleasant for residents. 

Other features include new kerbs and channels, seasonal garden beds, new paths, and a reconfiguration of parking spaces for no loss of parking. 

Greening projects like this one also help the city adapt to climate change – increasing the tree canopy and removing asphalt and paving has a cooling effect, making hot summer days more bearable.

At an FMC meeting on August 20, one resident raised concerns about the impact of removing the street’s existing Callistemon/bottlebrush trees would have on local birdlife, as well as safety concerns over removing the righthand turn lane onto King St. 

According to the council, the Callistemon trees are being cut down as part of the greening project because of “irreparable” damage from sawfly larvae. •