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, this conversation looks beyond aspiration and into the practical choices that will shape the city’s next generation.

We revisit the key themes explored throughout the season, from housing, homelessness and city safety to the future of the CBD economy, international students, Docklands, Fishermans Bend, Arden-Macaulay, Lygon Street, Queen Victoria Market, and the Yarra River/Birrarung.

Lord Mayor Nick Reece reflects on Melbourne’s post-COVID recovery, the challenges of growth, the role of council leadership, and how the city can remain liveable, creative, safe, inclusive and globally competitive in the decades ahead.

This is a conversation about ambition, delivery and the hundreds of decisions, big and small, that will determine the future of Melbourne.

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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 ambitious future as a hub for housing, jobs and innovation, we explore how the precinct became one of the most important development opportunities in the country.

We dive into the key challenges holding it back, including the legacy of the 2012 rezoning, delays in planning and delivery, and the critical role of transport infrastructure such as trams and the long-awaited Metro 2 rail line. We also look at the five distinct precincts that make up Fishermans Bend, why some areas like Montague are progressing while others remain stalled, and what needs to happen to restore confidence.

With the potential to accommodate 80,000 residents and 80,000 workers, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The question is whether Fishermans Bend can still deliver on its promise, and what it will take to get there.

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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 Southbank into a world-class tourism precinct, we explore how the river has continually shaped the city around it.

We also unpack the challenges facing the lower river today: ageing public spaces, fragmented governance, stalled renewal projects, commercial opportunity on the water, and the push for a cleaner, more activated and even swimmable Birrarung.

With Melbourne continuing to grow, what should the Yarra precinct look like over the next decade, and how do we unlock the full potential of the city’s greatest waterfront?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.