Melbourne 2030 Annual Community Update

Summer 2004–05

Melbourne is one of ResCode has been reinforced to help was also established to work closely the best places in the councils manage residential development with project proponents and local world to live. Our across suburbs without imposing a ‘one government to help speed up decision- cafes and restaurants, size fits all’ approach. An offer of interim making on important projects. vibrant cultural life, height controls tailored to suit local Smart Growth Committees are well clean environment and circumstances will help protect the underway developing and reviewing beautiful parks have character of neighbourhood centres. plans to guide future development in made it one of the Where higher density development does the five growth areas on the city’s outer world’s most liveable cities. Good planning occur, Design Guidelines for Higher Density edges. Good long-term planning will will help keep it that way. Residential Development will help ensure deliver well designed neighbourhoods good design. These planning tools provide Melbourne 2030 is the State Government’s with green spaces and easy access to clarity and certainty for investors and plan to protect what we love about community services and transport. By communities about what sort of housing Melbourne. Good planning will allow encouraging growth in designated and development is appropriate and where Melbourne to remain a liveable city as its areas, we are safeguarding our valuable it should occur. population increases by one million people green wedges for recreation, tourism by 2030. A key initiative in the April Economic and the environment. Statement Victoria: Leading the Way saw State and local governments working with Melbourne 2030 will evolve as the city the Priority Development Zone set up to local communities have already achieved a evolves. Good planning will ensure help major redevelopment in important great deal putting Melbourne 2030 into Melbourne remains a very liveable city locations such as Transit Cities and urban action. as its population grows and ages. centres. The Priority Development Panel

Mary Delahunty MP Minister for Planning

Visit the Melbourne 2030 website and join the mailing list to keep up to date on Melbourne 2030 implementation – www.melbourne2030.vic.gov.au What will Victoria’s population look like in 2031?

We’ve just welcomed our five millionth Projected share, by household type, Victorian. By 2031 Melbourne’s of the projected additional population will increase by around one households, Victoria, 2001–2031 million people. The most significant change over the next 30 years will be the Other increase in the aged population with the household types* number of people aged 60 years or more projected to grow by 628,000. Lone person households These changes will be reflected in an Couples without increased demand for different housing children options that allow older people to ‘downsize’ their houses while staying in Quick Fact their own communities. More than one in four Melburnians will be aged more than 60 years Melbourne is also projected to grow by * Other household types = couples with by 2031. around 627,000 additional households. A children, single-parent families, group massive 90% of these additional households households, etc. will be made up of just one or two people. Source: Department of Infrastructure consultancy, unpublished, 1999

Melbourne 2030 in action summary of key achievements

Just two years into implementing Five Smart Growth Committees Working with Local Government and Melbourne 2030, the Government has established, with work well underway stakeholders to put Melbourne 2030 already achieved: to co-ordinate the development of new into practice and expanding communities More than $10 million in funding to Greater planning certainty help local governments put Offer of Interim Planning Controls to Urban Development Program ensuring a Melbourne 2030 into action in local councils to provide greater certainty for 15-year supply of residential and communities residents and investors industrial land Five Melbourne 2030 Regional ResCode reinforced to protect Government leadership through Housing Working Groups established, neighbourhood character in established action in Transit Cities and key urban to plan regionally for future housing residential areas centres needs Offer of Interim height controls to Melbourne 2030 Transit Cities Program Melbourne 2030 Implementation councils to protect the character of expanded, receiving $14 million in Reference Group established, with Neighbourhood Centres Government funding and attracting more than $1 billion in private sector two reports released in 2004 Better Decisions Faster initiatives investment to date delivering estimated savings of $50 Quick Fact million for the development industry Transit City master planning projects completed for Dandenong, Bendigo, The five-year Melbourne 2030 Careful management of growth Footscray, Sydenham, Box Hill and Implementation Program An Urban Growth Boundary introduced Broadmeadows identifies 241 short term Historic, world-first legislation to protect priorities. All are underway Priority Development Panel and Priority our green wedges with 42 already completed. Development Zone established to drive projects of State and regional significance, especially in Transit Cities and urban centres

Need more information on Melbourne 2030? Visit www.melbourne2030.vic.gov.au

2 Managing Melbourne’s growth

Melbourne 2030 is a plan to protect our Protecting our Suburbs liveability now and for the future. Melbourne’s leafy suburbs are a central part of what makes us the world’s most By 2030 Melbourne will have around liveable city. 627,000 new households, many with just one or two people. One in four The Government has reinforced ResCode Australians will be over the age of 60. to help communities ensure that These changes require housing Melbourne 2030’s objective of protecting alternatives to the traditional quarter neighbourhood character is met. Residential suburbs acre block style of living. Incremental change. Councils now have the option of Councils can reinforce ResCode by On Melbourne’s fringe, future growth will making the ResCode standard building applying for the standard 9m height occur in five designated growth areas, height of nine metres a maximum in as a maximum in designated with the Urban Growth Boundary in place designated residential areas. residential areas. to protect Melbourne’s green wedges. Councils have the planning tools they Neighbourhood centres In established areas, more housing choice need to provide clarity and certainty for Some development is possible, will be provided in urban centres near investors and communities about where consistent with neighbourhood shops, services and transport. it is appropriate to put extra housing character. Councils can apply for and where it is not. Responsible planning for future interim height controls across population growth will protect agricultural Creating Vibrant Urban Centres neighbourhood centres. land, open spaces, coastal areas and Creating more housing choices in Major/principal centres green wedges from urban sprawl and established urban centres near shops Where more significant changes will make better use of existing infrastructure. and transport will take development occur to provide for population pressure off our traditional low-rise growth and housing choice. neighbourhoods. Councils can apply for interim To support councils as they complete planning controls based on Interim strategic planning for Melbourne 2030, Structure Plans in Principal and the Government has offered interim Major Centres. controls to protect areas in and around activity centres and other key development sites.

Design Guidelines for Higher Density Residential Development will help ensure better quality higher density housing developments in Victoria.

Need more information on Melbourne 2030? Visit www.melbourne2030.vic.gov.au

3 Managing Melbourne’s growth

Melbourne’s Green Wedges Growth Area Planning Green wedges are areas on Melbourne’s Smart Growth Committees (SGCs) have been fringe with environmental, social or established to coordinate the development economic significance. Victoria’s Green of Melbourne’s five growth areas. Wedge legislation is a world first and gives Public workshops are an important part of Melbourne’s green wedges clear the process, giving the community an boundaries and legal protection from opportunity to contribute, and helping the inappropriate development. The legislation Committees better understand community also cements the Urban Growth Boundary priorities. Workshops have already been held – a line along Melbourne’s fringe that will Urban Development Program in Wyndham, Casey-Cardinia and Hume. prevent inappropriate development from The Government is committed to eating into the green wedges. Final Growth Area Plans, informed by the ensuring an ongoing 15-year land supply community workshops, will be for residential and industrial growth. The Government has introduced the progressively delivered to Government Metropolitan Green Wedge Core Planning The Urban Development Program (UDP) during 2005. The Government will then Provisions to determine which land uses provides up to date land supply take any changes to the Urban Growth are and are not permitted in the green information on an annual basis. Boundary to Parliament later in 2005. wedges. Green Wedge Management and Information is collected through Implementation Plans will also be Good planning means new housing estates consultation with developers, real estate developed. will be liveable communities from the agents, local councils and infrastructure outset, not just carved-up pieces of land. providers about land supplies, infrastructure needs and affordability.

Growth Areas Interactive mapping for established • Casey-Cardinia residential, broad hectare residential and industrial areas is updated annually and • Hume available online, showing both recent • Melton-Caroline Springs development and future land supply. The • Whittlesea 2004 UDP Annual Report has just been • Wyndham released, providing detailed land supply information. For interactive land supply mapping visit www.land.vic.gov.au/udp

Melbourne 2030 helping councils deliver local solutions to local issues

Local Government, in partnership with • $200,000 grant to the Victorian Local • Partnership Models Forum and local communities, has a key role to play Governance Association – councillor discussion paper – exploring possible in planning for the future of local areas training held in November 2004 to partnership models that councils, and building stronger, safer and more provide Councillors with a better communities and government might vibrant neighbourhoods. Support to understanding of the planning system use in establishing a framework for councils includes: • Two $100,000 grants to the implementing activity centre policy • The Local Government Assistance Fund – Municipal Association of Victoria – • Structure Planning Advice website to $5.6 million to help councils carry out helping councils across the state help councils plan for the future of key important planning work to implement undertake essential work to urban centres Melbourne 2030 implement Melbourne 2030 and apply • Five Regional Housing Working Groups, the new rural zones • Transit Cities program – contributing to bringing metropolitan councils together the development of vibrant urban to plan for future housing needs centres in key strategic locations

Need more information on Melbourne 2030? Visit www.melbourne2030.vic.gov.au

4 Planning for our urban centres

Vibrant urban centres that have the shops What are Structure Plans? Structure plans provide a clear and services you need, cafes, Structure plans are a framework to guide framework for decision making and give entertainment and good transport mean a future development of activity centres. everyone in the community certainty great lifestyle. To ensure Melbourne’s Local councils are responsible for regarding the future development of ongoing liveability, councils across developing structure plans, in consultation their local area. Melbourne are in the process of with their communities, ensuring a local Visit www.melbourne2030.vic.gov.au for developing structure plans for their urban response which meets the community’s a list of activity centres near you. centres. changing needs. The plans guide changes to land use, built form and public spaces and identify opportunities for meeting future housing, shop and office needs.

CASE STUDY – Knox Central Urban CASE STUDY – Eltham Major Activity Working with community, business Design Framework Centre Structure Plan and State Government The Knox Central Urban Design The Eltham Major Activity Centre representatives to develop the plan, Framework sets out a vision for creating Structure Plan sets out council’s 20 year extensive consultation took place a cohesive physically, economically, vision for the centre, identifying precincts throughout the process, ensuring a socially and culturally vibrant urban and sites for higher density residential local solution which meets the centre which is a focal point for regional development, new retail development and community’s future needs. activity. A framework to guide change, it commercial office development. It also identifies opportunities for investment recommends improvements to pedestrian and enhancing the role and identity of and vehicle access, public transport the centre. The Framework also seeks to facilities and parking. improve accessibility and deliver a high quality environment.

CASE STUDY – South Melbourne A 10–15 year vision, the South Melbourne • Identifies how Council will Central Structure Plan wins Planning Central Structure Plan: manage and respond to Institute Award development pressure in the area • Looks at the urban environment and The City of Port Phillip’ s draft South the activities that take place within it The plan aims to see the South Melbourne Central Structure Plan won • Identifies what is highly valued, Melbourne Activity Centre retain the 2004 Melbourne 2030 Award at the with recommendations to ensure and strengthen its role and function Planning Institute of Australia’s Awards these elements are retained for the as a diverse and vibrant centre for for Excellence. The award recognises benefit of all the community by providing a council’s work in developing a best range of opportunities for practice structure plan, helping to • Examines how the area can embrace residents, workers and visitors, and implement Melbourne 2030 and opportunities for growth and change, realising the area’s potential as a working with the local community and evolve as a vital inner urban area truly mixed use inner urban village. to develop local solutions. of the 21st century

Need more information on Melbourne 2030? Visit www.melbourne2030.vic.gov.au

5 Virtual reality modelling

CASE STUDY footpaths, around sites, building exteriors with the City of Banyule. Similar New virtual reality technology is helping and facilities. The model also helps modelling is under way for communities better understand how their Councillors and council officers assess the Frankston as part of the Melbourne suburbs will grow and change. impact of different forms of development. 2030 Transit Cities program.

Virtual reality modelling is helping the City RMIT’s Urban Futures Laboratory has Viewed online, on a desktop PC or of Manningham demonstrate their vision developed models for Doncaster Hill, in a special ‘virtual reality centre’, for Doncaster Hill. People can take a Dandenong CBD, the Maribyrnong River virtual reality technology is putting virtual tour up their main street and see Valley, the Queen Victoria Market precinct the future within easy grasp of what it might look like in a decade’s time. and Footscray. They are currently stakeholders and the community. They can navigate along roads and developing a ‘real time’ model of the Greensborough Principal Activity Centre

5 Star energy rating

The 5 Star environmental standards for all Energy efficiency produces lower energy Quick facts new houses and apartments, introduced bills and also means more comfortable • The 5 Star standards will reduce in July 2004, make Victoria the first state houses with 5 Star homes up to 5 degrees greenhouse gas emissions by in Australia to introduce compulsory warmer in winter and up to 10 degrees 40,000 tonnes and save over 5 Star energy efficiency standards and the cooler in summer. $6m in household energy bills only state to include water measures. within the first year. With around 40,000 homes built in The standards will see energy used for Victoria each year, the standards provide a • Within five years the standards heating and cooling reduced by about simple, efficient and flexible way of will see greenhouse gas 50% and water use reduced by about reducing the effect of our buildings on the emissions reduced by 600,000 25% compared to the typical home. natural environment. tonnes which is equivalent to taking 140,000 cars off the road or planting two million trees.

For more information visit www.5starhouse.vic.gov.au

Need more information on Melbourne 2030? Visit www.melbourne2030.vic.gov.au

6 Transport

Metropolitan Transport Plan TravelSmart Communities Quick Facts Melbourne now has its very own TravelSmart encourages increased use of A 2003 pilot project to 6100 integrated transport plan, providing a public transport, cycling and walking by households around the Alamein train framework for prioritising future asking people to make voluntary line led to: Government transport investment. Linking changes to their travel choices and use • 10% reduction in car driver trips Melbourne: Metropolitan Transport Plan is alternative transport to the car. the most comprehensive plan for • 27% increase in public transport TravelSmart communities provide Melbourne’s transport sector in over 40 trips households with public transport, years. It considers personal travel – • 23% increase in cycling trips walking and cycling information tailored walking, cycling, trains, trams, buses, to their local area, helping them identify • 26% increase in walking trips taxis, cars and motor cycles – as well as sustainable transport solutions to meet The 2005 projects will see the movement of freight via roads, rail work, family, social and recreational needs. TravelSmart become the biggest and ports with a view to developing an travel behaviour change program in efficient integrated transport network for The program is currently being delivered the world. all Victorians. to 30,000 households in the City of Darebin with 50,000 households in The Government has already implemented the Cities of Moonee Valley and many individual transport projects and Maribyrnong to be targeted in a full- Linking Melbourne will ensure an scale demonstration project scheduled integrated view of all modes of transport to begin in February 2005. into the future. For more details visit: www.linkingvictoria.vic.gov.au

CASE STUDY – Darebin Integrated Taking an integrated approach to Quick Fact Transport Plan transport planning, council has Darebin Council’s Green Travel Plan Going Places, the City of Darebin’s developed a range of action plans and has seen the 140 staff registered for Integrated Travel Plan (ITP) promotes initiatives to implement the ITP. The the incentive program log 80,000 public transport use and reduces reliance High Street Transport Management Plan, kilometres of green travel by on the car. The plan guides council supports council’s High Street Urban choosing to walk and cycle to and decisions relating to travel, including Design Framework and aims to increase from work, and on business trips. management and provision of safety and visibility for pedestrians, infrastructure, and seeks to encourage cyclists and public transport users. work places, schools, public buildings and local shops to locate close to public transport with diverse housing provided in these locations.

Need more information on Melbourne 2030? Visit www.melbourne2030.vic.gov.au

SmartBus

SmartBus improves cross-town across the Principal Public Transport Quick Fact connections and links railway stations, Network. Roll-out is scheduled to begin SmartBus upgrades along shopping centres and community in 2005. Springvale Road and Blackburn facilities. The program provides improved A SmartBus service will operate along Road have seen patronage increase public transport links for Melbourne’s Wellington Road as part of the Mitcham by 30% and 19% respectively. middle and outer suburbs. Frankston Project. Warrigal Road is currently undergoing a SmartBus upgrade, delivering extended services, improved connections with railway stations, bus stop upgrades and real time travel information. The Warrigal Road route will be the first to benefit from a new information communications system being developed by the Department of Infrastructure for roll-out

Bicycle Facilities Provisions

Lack of bicycle parking and end of trip bicycle parking spaces along with facilities is considered a significant barrier associated shower and change facilities. to people cycling more, particularly for Combined with the Government’s people who want to ride to work. significant investment in bike lanes and The Bicycle Facilities Provisions, off-road routes, the new provisions introduced into all Planning Schemes in provide a major boost to cycling in October 2004, will ensure new buildings Melbourne. provide secure, accessible and convenient

Visit the Melbourne 2030 website and join the mailing list to keep up to date on Melbourne 2030 implementation – www.melbourne2030.vic.gov.au

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