New green space proposed for Roden St in West Melbourne 

The City of Melbourne has proposed a plan to add more green space along Roden St, West Melbourne, with the community invited to have its say.

By expanding the existing open area from Spencer St to King St, the council aims “to create a larger, more beautiful and functional green space for the local community to enjoy”. 

The proposal would see the removal of paving and the conversion of roadway to create 1000 square metres of additional greening, including a new path, 44 new trees, water-sensitive urban design features, and biodiverse garden beds.  

To make the project happen, the council would need to reconfigure some of the existing car parks from the proposed closed section of Roden St’s roadway to match the existing parking conditions towards Spencer St, however, all existing car parking spaces would be kept.

Public consultation on the Greening Roden St project is now open and closes June 15.  

“We’re listening to our West Melbourne residents and creating more green, open space to add to the liveability of this fast-growing neighbourhood,” Lord Mayor Sally Capp said.

We know parks and gardens are key to creating healthy, happy communities.

The project is part of the council’s commitment to increasing open space and tree canopy cover across the city, in line with the Open Space Strategy, Urban Forest Strategy, and the West Melbourne Structure Plan.

The latest proposal follows the council endorsing plans in May to create a linear park along Hawke St, West Melbourne, which will stretch from Railway Place to King St.

Former Lord Mayor and chair of the North and West Melbourne Association Kevin Chamberlin said he knew Roden St well following his term with the council when plans were approved to initially transform the street into green space more than three decades ago.

“It is probably the first greening exercise in West Melbourne in decades,” he said of the new plans.

“It’s been well used and enjoyed over the years and now it’s time for a well justified upgrade.” 

He said the surrounding area had changed significantly in recent times, with the west side of Roden St originally being almost exclusively residential, and the east side a mix of commercial and light industrial uses.

That’s all changed now and there’s a significant residential component on the east side.”

Mr Chamberlin said when the Roden St greening project was initially approved, one of the compromises made was to allow a former service station at the north-west corner of Roden and Spencer streets to retain its driveway exit point. 

“That petrol station has long gone, and the driveway can now be converted to open space which was originally proposed.”

He added, “this is indicative of the green opportunities in north and west Melbourne that have resulted from the change in uses from industrial to residential.”

These changes in uses also meant carparking was now situated in basements on Roden St rather than on the street, which “frees up a lot more roadway for open space, particularly the centre of the road”. •

To have your say: participate.melbourne.vic.gov.au/greening-roden-street