Technical Tours
Friday 15th May
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DEPART: Rydges Melbourne at 9:00am
RETURN: 12:00pm
Cost: free
Technical Tour #1: Capital Works Focus (Short Walking Tour)
Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation Project
Development Victoria is delivering the transformation of the Melbourne Arts Precinct, Australia’s largest cultural infrastructure project, on behalf of the Victorian Government through Melbourne Arts Precinct Corporation (MAP Co) in partnership with Arts Centre Melbourne, National Gallery of Victoria and Creative Victoria.
The $1.7 billion project will transform Melbourne's creative precinct - attracting visitors, creating jobs and establishing creative spaces and Laak Boorndap, a vibrant new urban garden in the heart of the city. The Melbourne Arts Precinct transformation project will deliver:
· The Fox: NGV Contemporary gallery
· Laak Boorndap, a new 18,000 square metre urban garden filled with biodiverse planting, public art and places for rest
· significant upgrades to Arts Centre Melbourne’s Theatres Building (under the Spire)
· better rehearsal facilities to support our performing arts sector
· a new loading dock
· new food and beverage spaces
· more space for outdoor art and performances
· new connections into and through the arts precinct
· improved all-abilities access
The area is of great significance to our First Nation Peoples and the traditional owners of the land, the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation, have been engaged to promote and share their stories about connections to their land.
Stop #3:
Stormwater Harvesting System, Fitzroy Gardens
The stormwater harvesting system at Fitzroy Gardens provides 30 million litres of water every year helping to keep the
heritage garden healthy in a changing climate.
Fitzroy Gardens is located on the eastern fringe of Melbourne’s central city. It covers an area of 26 hectares. It was set aside as a public reserve
in 1848 and named Fitzroy Gardens in 1862. Fitzroy Gardens was included on the Victorian Heritage Register in 1998. With its tree lined avenues
and broad array of horticultural and built features, it is the park most people readily identify as unique to Melbourne. At the time of the system
design, it was estimated that 117 million litres of water was needed to irrigate Fitzroy Gardens annually. In recent years, our ability to provide this
water has been challenged by drought, water restrictions and the impacts of climate change. To combat these challenges, we’ve built a system to
ensure that the garden’s trees, plants and turf exist and thrive into the future
The Fitzroy Gardens stormwater harvesting system captures, treats and stores stormwater to be reused for irrigation in the park. It is estimated
that system will replace 59 per cent of the drinking water used for irrigating the park. The system was built as part of a larger project on the former
depot in Fitzroy Gardens which includes new public open space, new depot facilities and a Visitor Centre.
Stop #2:
Underground water recycling facility, MCG(close-toed shoes must be worn at this site)
Victoria’s largest underground water recycling facility is in Yarra Park, outside the MCG. The water plant, funded by the MCC ($18 million)
and Victorian Government ($6 million), treats sewage from the local sewerage network to Class A recycled water standards.
Construction commenced in 2011 and was completed in 2012, following a comprehensive testing regime to ensure the water quality meets
EPA guidelines. More than 180 million litres of recycled water is produced each year, reducing the MCC’s use of potable water by 50 per cent.
The water is primarily re-used as irrigation in Yarra Park, as well as for cleaning and toilet flushing at the MCG and at nearby Punt Road Oval.
As one of the first of its type in Victoria, the recycling facility has been built underground, out of public view, without taking away from valuable
surface land use or park amenity. In 2012, the water recycling facility was recognised with the Infrastructure Project Innovation Award at the
Australian Water Association Awards (Victorian Branch).
For the technically minded, the water recycling process consists of screening and grit removal, biological treatment of the sewage and chemical addition for phosphate removal, filtration via membrane bioreactor and ultra-filtration membrane systems, before finally disinfection via ultraviolet and chlorination. The vast majority of the development associated with the water recycling facility to Yarra Park is located below ground and is not visible within the Yarra Park landscape. The more visible elements are the two elevated stair entry/exit structures at the north and south ends of the water recycling facility.
The water facility assists in providing a sustainable water supply for the future maintenance and upkeep of the park, enabling it to maintain its important role within the collection of inner urban public parks
Technical Tour #2: Integrated Water Management Focus (long walking tour)
DEPART: Rydges Melbourne at 9:00am
RETURN: 1:00pm
Cost: free
Stop #1:
Greenline Project, Birrarung Marr (Precinct Site 1)
The Greenline Project will deliver a 4 kilometre seamless, connected journey with improved public spaces for events, public art and recreation along the way. The project will be split into five inter-connected precincts; Birrarung Marr, The Falls, River Park, Maritime and Saltwater Wharf, all highlighting the area's rich indigenous history.
You can find out more about the full scale of the project by visiting the Greenline Project Participate Melbourne page.
Birrarung Marr Precinct Site 1
We've completed works to deliver the Greenline Project at Birrarung Marr, a 450-metre transformation stretching from Batman Avenue to the eastern edge of Federation Square. This newly opened space marks the start of the Greenline Project’s generous promenade along the river’s north bank with more than 70 native trees, over 25,000 native plants, a 200 metre boardwalk, seats and shaded resting areas. The Greenline Project has turned Birrarung Marr into a destination for the community to gather by the water right on the city’s doorstep. It's an important milestone in our mission to establish Melbourne as the garden city, creating more green open space where people can connect with nature and each other.
DEPART: Rydges Melbourne at 9:00am
RETURN: 2:00pm
Cost: free
Lunch is included in this tour
Sponsored by:
Technical Tour #3: Technology Focus (coach tour)
Fibre Reinforced Polymer boardwalk, Ruffey Lake Park, Templestowe
Built using Wagners CFT advanced FRP (Fibre Reinforced Polymer) construction, the Ruffey Lake boardwalk offers an immersive journey through nature, thoughtfully designed to sit just above the lake’s surface—bringing visitors closer to native waterbirds, reeds and the tranquil landscape.
Crafted using striking ironbark handrails with clean sightlines preserved through stainless steel mesh balustrades, the boardwalk delivers both natural beauty and long-term durability. Its innovative design ensures exceptional corrosion resistance and minimal maintenance, making it perfectly suited to its lakeside environment.
Carefully aligned to wrap around the embankment, the 108-metre bespoke structure protects surrounding flora and fauna while enhancing access and connection to the landscape while integrated seating invites moments of rest and reflection along the way.
A seamless blend of design, engineering and environment—Ruffey Lake’s boardwalk sets a new standard for lakeside experiences.