G Line - Common Questions

Common questions
The strategy to develop G Line has been created by a collaborative multi disciplined team who are deeply passionate about Melbourne and all the things that make it one of the best cities in the world. This team includes local architects, transport engineers, quantity surveyors, lawyers, financial modelling firms, town planners, urban designers, landscape architects, place-making experts, sustainability experts, engineers, property advisors, communications experts and sports administrators – many of whom have been trying to find a solution to the current problems with this rail corridor for years!
All of this work is underpinned by a proprietary program that delivers a transport infrastructure solution in and around Richmond station.
The list of collaborators can be found as part of The Vision.
G Line has been developed over 7 years and seeks to address multiple goals. It has been designed to deliver transport upgrades for Richmond Station to make it disability access compliant and connect it to the MCG and Olympic Park in a seamless fashion. It builds a podium above the railway lines thereby creating new public open spaces linking our world class sports and entertainment facilities. Beyond that, it creates new inner-city neighbourhoods that will provide housing, new community services for residents and multiple business opportunities for both visitors and local residents alike. It is an idea that has been a dream of many Victorians for a long time.
As a basic principle, the project generates revenue from long term leases of development air rights for buildings and facilities on the podium built over the railway corridor. This will generate the funds required to upgrade Richmond Station and deliver all the other transport, civic infrastructure, and public space improvements that would normally be funded by Commonwealth, State or Local governments.
As Melburnians, we have seen visions before, and we’ve seen them fade.
Not only is G Line an ambitious vision, it is real. Behind the scenes leading up to this moment, this transformational project has been rigorously tested, planned, costed and designed to be delivered.
But to make delivery possible we need a new approach. One that doesn’t ask the taxpayer to fund it. What makes G Line different is that it’s been designed to stack up – on its own merits – from the ground-up.
An Australian-first proprietary transport engineering solution would enable the city to unlock 12.6 hectares of developable land that has been overlooked, cutting through the heart of our sporting precinct. A lease model to secure air rights above the rail corridor would enable the funding of a major transport upgrade that has been overdue for decades.
Up to this point, the G Line proposal has not included developers, construction companies, nor the finance sector. No commercial arrangements have been entered into regarding the proposal.
The Victorian Government has not opened expressions of interest to develop this site, nor issued invitations for market led proposals over this location. Earlier iterations of the G Line have been shared with relevant Government agencies as a concept for consideration.
Unlike Docklands, G Line is not a government-led renewal initiative. This is a fully masterplanned concept which has been led by the human experience and community outcome, not to maximise development return.
A key distinction is that this is a lease model, not a sale, and the land will remain the property of the people.
It is a grassroots-led proposal by a team of industry leaders, galvanised by a shared aspiration for our city, who can’t unsee the potential that has been lying dormant for over 100 years. G Line offers a unique model and once in a generation opportunity to fix our city’s busiest rail corridor, all while creating more of what makes Melbourne great.
This proprietary delivery model will also enable the transport and the precinct above to be delivered in a sequence that places no hindrance on the surrounding sports precinct, the road or rail network or the neighbouring parks and gardens.
More than a transport project, G Line is a fully integrated precinct, comprised of 6 new neighbourhoods for open space, places to live, to create, to share experiences – everything within reach.
While every neighbourhood along G Line has its own character and identity, three design strategies tie them together across the whole corridor:
Stitching the divide — the masterplan connects both sides of the rail corridor, removing the barrier and creating seamless connection north and south.
Walk the line — a continuous, uninterrupted pedestrian boulevard along the podium, connecting William Barak Bridge through to Cremorne Commons, without traffic lights.
Reflecting the urban grain — new neighbourhoods are designed to reflect the character of the area around them, rather than standing apart from it.
Alongside these, the masterplan retains existing view corridors, provides clear connections through and between neighbourhoods, reinforces connections to where people want to go, and uses shared signage and wayfinding across the whole precinct.
The project includes several transport initiatives to improve flow and make it easier to get to games, work, concerts and home:
The tram stop on Olympic Boulevard is relocated closer to AAMI Park, away from the Hoddle Street/Punt Road intersection — freeing up traffic flow.
The existing bus parking entry and signal are replaced with an upgraded intersection opposite Entrance F at AAMI Park, servicing car parking, tram turning and bus parking together.
New dedicated bus bays and a multimodal interchange are built below the train station concourse, either side of the Punt Road Bridge, directly connecting buses and trains.
A curated summary of the masterplan, including the key drivers, moves, principles and strategies behind it, can be found throughout the multiple pages of the website. The full technical report was prepared by The Office for Collective Design (The OCD) as part of the project’s consultant work and isn’t publicly available as yet, but if you’d like to know more, get in touch via the contact form and join the conversation.
This project, borne out of the talents and creative spirit in Melbourne, has been developed as a project for the people and we welcome community input.
A project like this will generate lots of reflective thinking, talking and ongoing collaboration to make it happen. Even if it does not happen* we want it to be the benchmark for development here and in other places across the world.
Tell us what you think, and how you may like to be involved or kept up to date with future milestones.
Please sign up in the footer to receive project updates and click here to join the conversation.
*Rest assured, we want to make it happen for the people of Melbourne and all those who come here.
Cultural Heritage
The creators of G Line have invited the Wurundjeri to participate in the development proposal and welcome further engagement with them as Traditional Owners. The extent that Wurundjeri participate is open to them. At a formal level the project acknowledges that Wurundjeri have an extremely vital role to play as the designated Cultural Heritage authority assigned to them under relevant laws in Victoria.
The level of partnership will be actively explored by the project team in the hope that Wurundjeri come to value this relationship as truly genuine. Options for engagement will be explored with Wurundjeri regarding their immediate aspiration for cultural interpretation and recognition. For example, a cultural heritage based visitor centre, landscapes, plantings, and dual-language wayfinding signage across the podium. Economic opportunities for Aboriginal businesses to be located within the precinct longer term including sporting and artistic partnerships. First nations jobs identified in construction and ongoing employment. Ongoing cultural engagement and guidance of the precinct should be a feature of the governance for the area.
Environmental & Innovation
Finding Infinity has worked closely with the project team to develop the environmental strategy for G Line. Finding Infinity is a creative and technical environmental consultancy providing unique and bespoke advice to assist clients in minimising their environmental impact and operational expenses simultaneously via the most financially viable pathway. Working on small scale and large scale projects, locally and internationally, they focus on ambitious targets and find pragmatic and creative methods of achieving them.
Across the site, vacuum waste collection points are integrated into each neighbourhood which direct waste to a central resource recovery facility. Organic waste is separated and treated through an on site anaerobic digester, which converts food waste into energy and fertiliser, powering about 30% of the development. Other waste is separated into specific streams to maintain maximum recycling value, with on site treatment / recycling where possible.
Sports & Culture
Several sporting and cultural events already run at the same time across the MCG and Melbourne Park precinct, in both winter and summer. But the biggest events are kept from landing on the same day and time, to avoid overloading today's infrastructure.
G Line changes that. Increased capacity, including a rebuilt Richmond Station with longer platforms and a dedicated events platform, allows the precinct to be programmed without those constraints.
Public safety remains the critical common denominator, and as it is today, will be underpinned by close consultation and extensive planning with Victoria Police.
The major venues across the MCG and Melbourne Park precinct are deeply invested in the match day and events experience of their customers. Any deterrent to attending live and in person presents a deep concern and is a fundamental consideration.
As we've seen across the AFL Finals Series in 2026, and the incredible success of the NFL extravaganza, there is nothing quite like being there to witness the theatre and unscripted drama of live events.
G Line will deliver a transformational improvement in the match day and event experience for the fans and patrons who travel to and attend events at the venues across the broader precinct, through a safer, more efficient commuter journey.
Today, a day at the venues is largely a single stop: you arrive, watch the event and head home.
G Line turns that into a multi-stop, exploratory experience. Arrive early and wander the laneways, have a beer at the brewery, catch the view from a rooftop bar, browse the Swan St Market, visit the Sports Museum or join a heritage tour from the Legends Forecourt, and stay on after the final siren.
The event is still the main act, but the whole day around it becomes part of the outing.
The precinct already has a range of recreation facilities open to the public, both informally and formally.
At Melbourne Park, tennis courts can be booked. At Gosch's Paddock, you can simply walk onto the grass pitches for a kick about, except when Storm, Victory, the Demons and the Pies are training, or jump on the running track around the old Olympic Park Oval.
G Line keeps this access in place. The tennis courts on Olympic Boulevard relocate to the north-west end of the precinct, closer to the junction of Spring and Flinders Streets, and G Line adds to the suite around them: a community oval and pavilion on the Front Lawn, children's play and nature play areas, open lawns for yoga, boot camps and running groups, picnics, a dog off-leash green, new youth activation spaces, and a starting point for running and cycling clubs. Public heated pools, saunas, hydrotherapy and natural swimming are also proposed.
This is a professional sports and events precinct, built around the venues and the clubs, codes and promoters that bring content to it. G Line embraces that, and adds to it for the public.
New public sports amenities include courts, sports medicine and recovery facilities, and walking, jogging and cycling routes. And the benefits go beyond playing: there's real public value in watching sport, from seeing the teams train to visiting the Sports Museum to being in the crowd on the day.
Parks & Open Spaces
The parks and open space strategy was developed through close collaboration between Tract, as Landscape Architects, and The OCD, as Urban Designers and Masterplanners, working together from the earliest stages of the project. Sitting at the heart of Melbourne's gardens, sports and cultural precincts, with a strong connection to the Yarra River, parks and open space were treated as a core part of the masterplan rather than an afterthought, acting like a set of lungs along the rail corridor and breathing life into what is currently a hostile environment. Together, the two teams have shaped smaller building footprints with outlooks to parks and gardens, publicly accessible spaces of varying size and scale, and connected flora and fauna corridors, resulting in a stronger, more connected and people-focused public realm.
Yes. Deep soil zones have been provided across the site to support healthy, full-grown trees over the long term, created in part by stepping the ground level above the embedded rail corridor, with landscaped terraces and gardens along its edges. Tree planting has been a key consideration throughout the design process, with the strategy targeting 40% canopy cover across public spaces along G Line, helping create cooler, greener, more comfortable places while delivering lasting environmental benefits for the community.
The planting strategy targets at least 60% indigenous plant and tree species, supporting local biodiversity and habitat for flora and fauna, and strengthening the landscape's connection to the region. A selection of exotic species will also be included, reflecting the character of Yarra Park and the surrounding area, where many existing parks and streets feature established exotic trees. Together, this mix creates a resilient, diverse landscape that integrates seamlessly with its broader context.
All of them. The precinct is designed for every mode, including new train, tram and bus infrastructure, wider roads for greater vehicle capacity, and taller bridges to accommodate freight. The general approach separates these modes vertically to make each one safer and more efficient: the top layer of the podium is dedicated to pedestrians and cyclists, with a service layer beneath it for back-of-house activity, the rail corridor and station below that, and vehicles, trams and buses at ground level. This vertical separation keeps people on foot or on a bike away from vehicles, trams, trains and buses, and allows a direct journey from the train to the venues without ever needing to cross a road.
Planning & Urban Design
For the past 7 years, G Line has been driven by a collaborative team who are each deeply passionate about Melbourne and all the things that make it one of the best cities in the world. With Planning led by Tract and Urban Design led by The OCD, our interdisciplinary team of professionals spans architecture urban design, landscape architecture, transport, urban planning, sustainability, placemaking, strategy, property, sports administration, project management and beyond, each dedicating their time, energy and creativity to this ambitious project.
Unlike Docklands, G Line is not a government-led renewal initiative. This is a fully masterplanned concept which has been led by the human experience and community outcome, not to maximise development return.
A key distinction is that this is a lease model, not a sale, and the land will remain the property of the people.
It is a grassroots-led proposal by a team of industry leaders, galvanised by a shared aspiration for our city, who can’t unsee the potential that has been lying dormant for over 100 years. G Line offers a unique model and once in a generation opportunity to fix our city’s busiest rail corridor, all while creating more of what makes Melbourne great.
This proprietary delivery model will also enable the transport and the precinct above to be delivered in a sequence that places no hindrance on the surrounding sports precinct, the road or rail network or the neighbouring parks and gardens.
More than a transport project, G Line is a fully integrated precinct, comprised of 6 new neighbourhoods for open space, places to live, to create, to share experiences – everything within reach.
Around the world, rail lines are being redeveloped and reimagined into new urban spaces.
The Highline in New York, Hudson Yards in Manhattan, the Paris Rive Gauche project in France, the Broadgate development in London, and the IOTA Seoul redevelopment initiative are global exemplars of what can be achieved when people choose to embrace complexity for the benefit of their cities.
It is possible to create new urban spaces over active transport lines, and now we have the solution. This is Melbourne’s chance to show the world what we’re capable of.
As Melburnians, we have seen visions before, and we’ve seen them fade.
Not only is G Line an ambitious vision, it is real. Behind the scenes leading up to this moment, this transformational project has been rigorously tested, planned, costed and designed to be delivered.
But to make delivery possible we need a new approach. One that doesn’t ask the taxpayer to fund it. What makes G Line different is that it’s been designed to stack up – on its own merits – from the ground-up.
An Australian-first proprietary transport engineering solution would enable the city to unlock 12.6 hectares of developable land that has been overlooked, cutting through the heart of our sporting precinct. A lease model to secure air rights above the rail corridor would enable the funding of a major transport upgrade that has been overdue for decades.
This is not a development application. G Line is a strategic catalyst that invites the citizens of Melbourne and its stakeholders across the public and private sectors to deeply engage in a nuanced and mature conversation about the future of this precinct.
There is no denying this is a highly unique and complex project. It spans both public and private land, crosses two local government areas, and seeks to do things differently – for the better.
This will require a sustained collaboration and commitment to excellence that would enable our planning system to embrace a once-in-a-generation opportunity to capture everything that our city aspires to be.
It asks us to imagine: how incredible would it be if we came together to make this happen?
Underpinned by a rigorous and thoroughly tested masterplan that embeds a series of core principles and functions designed to serve the city and its people, G Line will require unique planning controls and a layered approvals process that can effectively manage and deliver the outcomes proposed in the Masterplan, ensuring these ambitions can be effectively realised over time.
Due to the nature of the technical engineering solution at the core of the project, there are some elements which need to be ‘locked in’ to make the project possible.
A significant and rigorous process of modelling and testing has been undertaken to ensure the project can generate sufficient above-podium investment to fund the transport infrastructure.
The masterplan sets a benchmark for the aspirations, principles and requirements that developers will need to meet if they wish to be part of bringing the vision to life.
Landscape and open space, sustainability, spaces for people, community amenities and public benefit are all fundamental to what G Line seeks to achieve.
The masterplan invites the brightest ideas to envisage what could be possible in a precinct that celebrates the best of what Melbourne is, and can be.
Community & Housing
G Line is not just a vision, it is a deeply considered, rigorously tested urban renewal opportunity that supports an experience where everything is within reach. Through public spaces, laneways, and a mix of uses that span daily services, food and beverage, retail, commercial, employment, education, health and wellness, arts and culture all connecting back to the world-class sports and entertainment precinct it sits within – G Line is an opportunity to create a whole new suburb and 6 neighbourhoods that exemplify everything Melbourne has to offer.
How people move through, explore, live and work here is the underlying driver of the precinct’s planning and design approach.
With 8 public parks, a plaza connecting the MCG and Melbourne Park, an upgraded Richmond Station and transport interchange, all connected by a 1.8km pedestrian and cycling corridor through the precinct, G Line is a people-first project, with the human experience at its heart.
G Line isn’t just a horizontal connection between Richmond and the City, but a vertical one, integrating public and active transport and opportunities for people to live, work and explore at every level.
In a world of increasing isolation and inequity, what makes our sporting precinct so special is how it brings people together. The opportunity for shared human experience is the thread that stitches G Line together. From the open greenery of Jolimont Fields, to the energy of Olympic Plaza, the elevated lushness of Yarra Residences, the buzzing transport and employment hub of Richmond Circus, through to everyday activity in The Village and Cremorne Commons – spaces for people are embedded not just as a design, but a core principle.
Inclusion isn’t an afterthought, it’s a core consideration that’s embedded in the design thinking of the 6 neighbourhoods and everything that connects them.
As far as possible at this early stage, we’ve endeavoured to design this with the human experience in mind. How people get around and access the things that make life not only possible but enjoyable no matter their life stage or needs.
Understanding what’s not possible now, but what could be, and how we could enable that to happen through considered planning and design.
While G Line is a masterplan, it will continue to evolve to meet the needs of the people who will live, work and visit. In the spirit of the collaborative process through which G Line has emerged, we are committed to continuing to engage with people from all walks of life, experiences, and perspectives.
G Line is an homage to our sporting ‘cathedral’. A place that brings us together to celebrate the best and the greatest. The birthplace of iconic moments that stay with us for a lifetime – connecting us across generations, language, culture and team loyalty. It is a testament to the power of human connection and the values that unite us.
But unless you have a reason to be there, or already live nearby, the opportunity to engage with Melbourne’s premier sporting destination is severely limited. The human experience of getting to, from, and around the precinct is hindered by decades of poor precinct-scale planning, and chronic under-investment.
This project is not about looking back at where we went wrong, this is about coming together as Melburnians to boldly embrace what’s possible if we back our own creative potential and technical nous.
As fiercely passionate citizens and professionals with the willingness to lend our collective skills to the challenge, we see this as an opportunity to catalyse change, and provide this world-class venue what it deserves – a precinct that truly is for everyone.
Business & Industry
The strategy to develop G Line has been created by a collaborative design team who are deeply passionate about Melbourne and all the things that make it one of the best cities in the world. This team includes local architects, transport engineers, quantity surveyors, lawyers, accountants, town planners, urban designers, landscape architects, place-making experts, sustainability experts, engineers, property advisors, communications experts and sports administrators – many of whom have been trying to find a solution to the current problems with this rail corridor for years!
The list of collaborators can be found as part of The Vision.
As a basic principle, the project generates revenue from long term leases for development air rights for buildings and facilities on the podium built over the railway corridor. This will generate the funds required to upgrade Richmond Station and deliver all the other transport, civic infrastructure, and public space improvements that would normally be funded by Commonwealth, State or Local governments.
Up to this point, the G Line proposal has not included developers, construction companies, nor the finance sector. No commercial arrangements have been entered into regarding the proposal.
The Victorian Government has not opened expressions of interest to develop this site, nor issued invitations for market led proposals over this location. Earlier iterations of the G Line have been shared with relevant Government agencies as a concept for consideration.
At this time, the buildings and spaces created in the Masterplan do not have designated tenants. The mix of activities and opportunities have been designed to enable 24/7 neighbourhoods that add value to experience of residents, commuters, workers and visitors to the sporting precinct. The design intent is to have use of public and private space in a way that is equitable, accessible and at the same time commercially viable to ensure the deliverability and vibrancy of the project. The tenancy opportunities will be finally determined during the construction phase.
It is acknowledged that a project of this scale, has the potential to affect the local amenity and viability of local businesses. For this proposal, the potential adverse impacts would be for businesses east of Punt Road and into Cremorne. The master plan and the structure plan proposal have addressed the alignment of street scape to ensure consistency with existing built form. The configuration of the podium and the embedded transport solutions will make pedestrian and other traffic move easier across and along Swan Street and facilitate greater north-south pedestrian travel. The commercial activity envisaged will generate more visitors and residents over longer periods in the neighbourhood. This may offset the negative aspects of competition that will be brought to hospitality businesses at the eastern end of the project.

Common Questions

Common questions

Who’s behind the project?

Why now?

Who’s paying for it?

Will this actually get built?

Is this a land grab by developers?

How is this different from Docklands?

How do six different neighbourhoods feel like one place?

Will public transport access change? Or road access?

Where can I see the full masterplan?

How can I play a part?

How do I stay updated on progress?

Cultural Heritage

What role will Traditional Owners-the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation play in this project?

What might a genuine partnership with Wurundjeri look like?

Who decides how cultural heritage stories are told?

What if Wurundjeri’s views are in conflict with the masterplan?

What can Wurundjeri’s ongoing custodianship look like?

Does this connect to the wider Kulin Nation?

Environmental & Innovation

Who’s behind the environmental strategy?

How is water managed?

How is waste managed?

Sports & Culture

Will construction disrupt training or matchday operations?

How is capacity managed on shared event days?

What does this unlock for the major venues?

How is the supporter experience improved?

What recreation facilities are open to everyone?

What’s the balance between elite and grassroots sport?

Parks & Open Spaces

Who’s behind the landscape vision?

Will the parks be free and open to everyone?

Is there enough soil depth for full-grown trees?

Are the plants and trees native species?

What activities will these spaces support?

Are these spaces for pedestrians, cyclists, or cars?

Planning & Urban Design

Who’s behind the planning and urban design strategy?

How is this different from Docklands?

Has anything like this been delivered before?

Will this actually get built?

What planning approvals are needed?

How much is locked in versus still aspirational?

What happens next?

Community & Housing

What community amenities are provided?

What’s the balance between private and public space?

How are people encouraged to gather and connect?

How are barriers to inclusion removed?

How will this feel like it belongs to all Melburnians?

Business & Industry

Who’s behind the business and industry strategy?

Who’s paying for it?

Is this a land grab by developers?

Who are the tenants, and how are they chosen?

How will local businesses be impacted?

Why is there such a mix of functions beyond sport?