Melbourne Council to consider plan to demolish part of Federation Square

Federation Square could undergo a major revamp under a plan being considered by the City of Melbourne.

A planning application suggests the square should opened up to the Yarra River, providing a better thoroughfare from the city to the river.

But professor of architecture and urban design at the University of Melbourne, Professor Kim Dovey, says the plan is vague.

“It’s hard to know what to think at the moment,” he told Ross and Russel.

“The devil will be in the detail.”

Many of the buildings along the Yarra River side of Federation Square have been vacant for the past three years.

Professor Dovey says opening up the square to the river is “a really good idea”.

“Fed Square has been one of Melbourne’s great projects, but has everyone has pointed out, this was the big flaw – it turns its back on the river,” he said.

“Opening up to the river is really about social life much more than what it looks like.

“Fed Square has to become somewhere on the way from the city to the river.”

Press PLAY below to hear more about the plan