Surf's up in Melbourne's CBD for floating beach and wave pool project

Surfers could soon be riding waves in Melbourne's CBD if a proposal for a floating beach and wave pool goes ahead.

The Docklands Surf Park is a joint venture between engineering firm Arup and Melbourne architect Damian Rogers.

The project includes a man-made sandy beach with filtered salt-water and a floatable wave pool next to the Central Pier in what would be an Australian first.

Arup's Urban and Transport Planner Phil Carter said it was all about "reconnecting Melbourne with the water" in the heart of the city.

"The idea is to create a surfable wave and actually do it on the beach in the centre of Melbourne," he said.

"We wanted to create something that was a genuine place people could go and enjoy.”

The design includes a 160 metre long surfable pool and the waves would range up to 1.5 metres high and the water would be heated.

Mr Carter said the costs of the project was yet to be established.

"Existing examples of surfable wave pools have been established in Europe for an estimated five million euros but the local context and conditions will have a significant impact on the costs in Melbourne," he said.

Mr Rogers said the project gives Melbourne the chance to reinvent itself.

"We don’t tend to use the water that surrounds us as well as we could," he said.

"This surf park concept would create a beach lifestyle in the heart of the city."

Surfing Victoria Chief Executive Max Wells welcomed the ambitious plan.

"I can imagine having surfers in suits heading for an after-work session and kids coming to the Docklands carrying surfboards on Melbourne’s trains and trams,” he said.

The project would require the tick of approval from the Melbourne City Council and Places Victoria.

In a statement, the council described the project as "interesting".

"The City of Melbourne has not committed any support for this project and has only been approached informally to be advised of this private sector initiative," the statement read.

"Our feedback to Arup was that it was an interesting concept, if private funding were available for the infrastructure."