Future Melbourne

About Future Melbourne

Welcome to Future Melbourne — a podcast series exploring the ideas, decisions and debates shaping the future of the City of Melbourne. In each episode, we take a closer look at the big issues affecting how our city grows and changes — from housing and urban renewal to transport, planning, public space and community life. We speak with the people at the centre of these conversations to unpack what’s happening, why it matters, and what comes next. Future Melbourne is produced by Hyperlocal News, the publisher of CBD News and our network of local newspapers across the City of Melbourne, including Docklands News, Southbank News and North West City News. This series is proudly supported by Good One Creative. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Publisher

Lawrence Phelan

Category

education · history · news

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

4 Mar 2026

Latest episode

19 May 2026

Latest episodes

10 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   19 May 2026

   Melbourne 2050

   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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

2. 

   5 May 2026

   Fishermans Bend

   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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

3. 

   28 Apr 2026

   Yarra River

   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 (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

4. 

   17 Apr 2026

   Lygon Street

   Lygon Street: can Melbourne’s Little Italy find its next chapter? In this episode of Future Melbourne, we sit down with Sergio Alderuccio, president of Carlton Inc., to explore the past, present and future of one of Melbourne’s most iconic streets. From its roots as the birthplace of Melbourne’s café culture to its golden era as a bustling hub of Italian life, food and celebration, Lygon Street has long held a special place in the city’s identity. Sergio shares his personal connection to the strip, the stories that have shaped it, and what it meant at its peak — from packed-out festas to unforgettable moments like World Cup celebrations spilling into the street. But like many high streets, Lygon St is changing. We unpack the challenges facing traders today, from shifting consumer habits and foot traffic to vacancies, safety, cleanliness and the evolving mix of businesses along the strip. As new cultures and cuisines reshape the southern end, questions are being asked about what “Little Italy” means in 2026 — and whether the street can, or should, return to its roots. We also explore the role of Carlton Inc. in supporting traders and activating the precinct, the push to revive the Lygon Street Festa, and the growing collaboration between businesses and residents around a shared vision for the street’s future. This is a conversation about identity, evolution and what it takes to keep a great Melbourne street alive. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

5. 

   13 Apr 2026

   City Safety

   How safe is Melbourne’s CBD — and how much of the concern is perception versus reality? In this episode of Future Melbourne, we speak with Inspector Dale Huntington, Victoria Police’s Local Area Commander for Southbank and Melbourne East, about the evolving safety picture across central Melbourne. With crime and amenity becoming defining issues in recent years, this conversation takes a calm and considered look at what’s really happening on the ground. We discuss crime trends in the CBD and surrounding precincts, the impact of COVID on the city’s rhythm, hotspot areas, retail theft, youth offending, knife crime, public order and the challenges of policing one of the busiest and most complex urban environments in the state. We also explore how Victoria Police is responding through initiatives like Operation Harmony, the role of neighbourhood policing, the emergence of the City of Melbourne’s Community Safety Officers, and the importance of working with council, businesses, residents and support services when responding to issues around homelessness, mental health and visible drug use. Inspector Huntington brings decades of operational policing experience to the conversation, including major events, public order, transport safety and executive leadership within Victoria Police. He offers a valuable perspective on what safety means in a modern global city — and what Melbourne needs to do to remain both safe and welcoming in the years ahead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

6. 

   6 Apr 2026

   Arden Macaulay

   Arden and Macaulay are two of Melbourne’s most important urban renewal precincts — but also two of its most contested. In this episode of Future Melbourne, we sit down with former City of Melbourne councillor, long-time Kensington resident and urban planner Rohan Leppert to unpack what’s at stake in the future of these fast-changing inner-city neighbourhoods. From the promise of Arden’s new Metro Tunnel station and the shifting vision for government-owned land, to Macaulay’s long-delayed planning controls, flood risks, affordable housing debates and the fight for open space along Moonee Ponds Creek, this is a conversation about how cities are shaped — and who gets to shape them. We explore the history of both precincts, the political and planning tensions now playing out, and what must happen next to ensure growth is matched by liveability, infrastructure and community voice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

7. 

   30 Mar 2026

   Housing in the City of Melbourne

   In this episode, we dive into one of the most pressing issues facing Melbourne — housing. From affordability and supply to planning, density and the role of government, the conversation around housing has become central to the future of our city. As Melbourne continues to grow, the challenge is not just building more homes, but building the right homes in the right places. Joining me today is Rob Pradolin — founder of Housing All Australians and former General Manager of Frasers Property Australia — who has become a leading voice in the push for practical, system-wide reform across Australia’s housing sector. During this discussion, we unpack what’s driving the housing crisis, where the system is falling short, and what needs to change to deliver more accessible and sustainable housing outcomes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

8. 

   23 Mar 2026

   Docklands

   In this episode we’re heading to Melbourne’s waterfront and one of the city’s most debated neighbourhoods – Docklands. Over the past two decades, Docklands has grown from former port land into a major urban renewal precinct now home to more than 18,000 residents, thousands of workers and some of Melbourne’s most recognisable waterfront spaces. But it’s also a place that continues to attract strong opinions about what it is — and what it should become. Joining for the discussion is Docklands resident, former City of Melbourne councillor and co-president of emerging Docklands group Community3008, Jamal Hakim. In this conversation we’ll explore Docklands’ history, the challenges it’s faced in recent years, and the opportunities that could shape its future as Melbourne continues to grow. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

9. 

   17 Mar 2026

   City Economy

   In this episode we take a closer look at the future of Melbourne’s CBD and the economic forces shaping it in the years since the pandemic. Few cities in the world experienced the disruptions of COVID quite like Melbourne. Long lockdowns, changing work patterns and the rise of hybrid work have all reshaped how people use the city. Office vacancies remain high, foot traffic has shifted, and the conversation about how to revitalise the CBD is still very much underway. Joining for the conversation is Stephen Mayne — former City of Melbourne councillor, founder of *Crikey*, and one of Australia’s most well-known shareholder activists. Stephen has spent years analysing the intersection of politics, business and governance, including during his time on council where he oversaw the city’s finance portfolio. In this episode we explore how Melbourne’s CBD is evolving, what the City of Melbourne can realistically do to bring people back into the city, and what the next chapter of the central city economy might look like. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

10. 

    4 Mar 2026

    Queen Victoria Market

    Queen Victoria Market is one of Melbourne’s most recognisable landmarks — a place of fresh produce, family traditions, small businesses and civic history stretching back more than 145 years. But like much of the CBD, the market has been navigating a period of profound change. From a $268 million renewal program and the impacts of COVID, to shifting consumer habits and tensions around trader costs and governance, QVM is evolving in real time. In this episode of Future Melbourne, we speak with Queen Victoria Market CEO Matt Elliott about leading one of the city’s most complex and beloved institutions. We explore the balance between heritage and modernisation, the realities facing traders, the future of the Peel Street and general merchandise areas, and how the market fits into a changing central city. What does a thriving Queen Victoria Market look like in 5, 10 or even 20 years? And how do you renew an icon without losing what makes it special? This episode is part of Future Melbourne, a podcast series by Hyperlocal News, publisher of CBD News, Docklands News, Southbank News and North West City News, proudly supported by Good One Creative. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.