Footscray Wharf and Promenade Projects

The Footscray Wharf Redevelopment project was completed in June 2022 with the following upgrades to the area.

• New timber boardwalk with a fixed lower landing and floating pontoon to provide access to the water.
• Wider pedestrian promenade connected to the Maribyrnong River Trail with lighting. 
• Additional seating spaces, and sheltered picnic and barbecue areas.
• Palm tree plantings alongside the boardwalk.
• Embankment of the river has been stabilised and protected.

The unsealed car park at the end of Saltriver Place, Footscray has been transformed into a new public open space.

Council endorsed the project in June 2023, with the aim to enhance community amenities and promote active and passive recreational opportunities.

The works included:

• Resheeting at the termination of Saltriver Place.
• Improved drainage works to the road reserve.
• Installation of a footpath connection. 
• Converting the gravel car park into a passive open space lawn area. 
• Garden bed planting to the interface with residences. 
• The installation of bollards.
• Tree planting.
• The installation of a picnic table.

Council has funding within this year’s capital works program for the electrical connection to support lighting of the Hopkins Street Bridge Bouldering Wall and artwork along the Joseph Road Precinct interface with the Maribyrnong River.

In 2018, the space underneath Hopkins Street Bridge in Footscray, was transformed into to a colourful recreational plaza featuring a towering climbing wall and exercise equipment.

The climbing wall, which stands at 4 meters high, and plaza were designed in collaboration with the Victorian Climbing Club. The space aims to encourage people to try out bouldering without requiring a harness and spend more time doing physical activity outdoors.

The climbing grips on the wall are set in varying levels of difficulty, with the goal being to traverse the wall using just one colour route. This ensures the wall caters for the advanced climbing community in Melbourne’s inner west, as well as encouraging beginners to try it out.

The lighting connection will provide extended hours of use and will be completed in March 2025. 

In response to strong community demand, the inclusion of a new public toilet adjacent to the recently upgraded Footscray Wharf Precinct is a priority for Council. This facility will encourage greater use of the Wharf promenade and gathering spaces, enhancing the precinct’s functionality. The completed works have already increased usage by both the local community and visitors, with surrounding projects expected to further boost utilisation. Providing adequate amenities will ensure the precinct can support long-term visitation for a broader range of community members effectively and complement the works so far. The main components of the project are:

• Adaptive reuse of 1 x shipping container to include:  2x ambulant, 1x accessible toilet.
• Custom raised decking and shelter
• Services connection (electrical + plumbing) to the public toilet.
• Surrounding landscaping and seating
• Wayfinding signage
• Functional and feature lighting
• Removal of bluestone, rubble and contaminated soil on site
• Stabilisation and preservation of heritage bluestone wall

The project is commencing construction in March and will be completed by August 2025.

Connected off street pathways for cyclists and pedestrians in Grimes reserve in line with the Bunbury Street Improvement Plan.

The Shared User Path in Grimes Reserve will extend the existing path and connect Maribyrnong Street and Moreland Street. It will create an improved access path for cyclists connecting to the Maribyrnong river trail.

The project scope includes:

• extension of the existing pavement in Grimes Reserve to Maribyrnong St;
• ·new raised crossing across Maribyrnong Street and new raised crossing across Moreland St
• The new Shared User Path to be 3m wide
• Expected project cost: $180,000

The project is currently in the design phase and is expected to be completed by June 2025. 

A contemplative seat to be developed by the Blacksmith’s Festival Association and installed on the Footscray Wharf.

The location is being confirmed however it is likely to be installed on grassed area on the Wharf between the two raised gardens that run along the banks of the river abutting the wharf deck

The project is currently in the design phase and is expected to be completed by June 2025.