The Fishermans Bend Business Forum exists as the voice of businesses within Fishermans Bend, aiming to shape its future so that Victoria’s largest urban renewal project lives up to its promise of providing a vibrant future for the 80,000 residents and 80,000 employees envisaged within this precinct.

Tonight, I attended the end of year gathering of the Fishermans Bend Business Forum hosted at Starward Distillery, which is located within Fishermans Bend. The business forum highlighted a desire to see investment within Fishermans Bend, particularly in regard to public transport, which is a vital catalyst to spurring this precinct fulfil its potential.

Key community stakeholders, whether residents or businesses, are united on the need for improved public transport within Fishermans Bend. While upgrades to bus route 235 is a much welcomed and needed improvement, services are still lagging on route 237 servicing the Lorimer Precinct and bus route 606, which despite being the only public transport route connecting Fishermans Bend across the rest of Port Phillip, has poorer frequencies and operating spans that even some outer suburban bus routes in Melbourne.

The evidence showing the role of public transport as a catalyst for urban renewal is clear, both within Melbourne as seen at Ringwood and elsewhere as demonstrated within Sydney and even Perth. The State Government, alongside upgrades to bus routes 237 and 606, must also deliver the long-promised tram extensions and a provide a timeframe for rail services.