MARIBYRNONG PLANNING SCHEME

21.01 MUNICIPAL PROFILE 16/11/2006 C31

21.01-1 Introduction 19/01/2006 VC37 How will the City of Maribyrnong look and feel and function in 15 or 20 year’s time? The trends which are operating now, and the opportunities for redevelopment and change which exist here, show quite clearly that there will be major physical changes within the city in the foreseeable future. Major and rapid change, amounting to the complete re-creation of some areas, will occur in a horse-shoe shaped area within a kilometre or so of the city’s eastern, northern and western boundaries. On the other hand, in most of the central areas of the city, change, if it occurs at all, will be slow and subtle; consolidating and enhancing existing character rather than re-creation. These physical changes will bring about significant cultural, social, economic and environmental changes. The Council is committed to bringing about these changes. The primary issue is to influence change to achieve the outcomes which are carefully considered, fair and just to all, which will enhance the environment and economic and social opportunities, and bring to life Council’s mission of building a diverse yet cohesive inner city community where everyone can contribute to the life of the city. Achieving the best outcomes from change requires a description of what is wanted. The process of change needs to be carefully managed to increase future opportunities for, choice in, and access to, housing, employment, leisure, recreation, entertainment, shopping, and education. These are the foundations of our quality of life. The Maribyrnong Planning Scheme can be, indeed must be, an important tool for managing physical change in the future. It must not only establish the future direction of change, but also provide effective guidance for consistent decision-making to bring about the desired future. The purpose of this strategic statement is to provide the framework to help us all to do just that.

21.01-2 Policy Context 19/01/2006 VC37 State

Following its announcement in 1993 to reform the planning system, the State Government has established a strategic planning framework, consisting of broad principles and objectives, which all Victorian local planning schemes must put into effect. These are described in a number of documents, the most important of which are: ƒ The State Planning Policy Framework which applies to all land in Victoria and is incorporated into every Victorian planning scheme. ƒ Living Suburbs - A policy for metropolitan Melbourne into the 21st Century which sets out the directions for future planning and development of metropolitan Melbourne for the next 20 years. The strategic directions identified in Living Suburbs are: ƒ To build a business environment conducive to sustainable long term economic growth. ƒ To enhance Melbourne’s strengths as an international transport, production and communications hub. ƒ To strengthen links between Melbourne and regional Victoria to increase the competitiveness of the Victorian economy as a whole.

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ƒ To enhance Melbourne’s environmental livability. ƒ To create a more functional city by better management of Melbourne’s infrastructure and urban development. ƒ Transporting Melbourne supports the directions defined in Living Suburbs, by establishing a set of broad aims for transport infrastructure development throughout the metropolitan area. It also sets out a methodology for establishing transport infrastructure development priorities. The City of Maribyrnong's support for the broad directions established by these documents is reflected throughout the Municipal Strategic Statement.

Regional

The Western Region has many structural and location advantages, including: ƒ Closeness to the Melbourne Central Activities District, Melbourne Airport, container shipping terminals, Docklands, Flemington racecourse/showgrounds complex and other major tourist attractions, the Western Ring Road and City Link projects. ƒ Large areas of inexpensive land and large sites for development and redevelopment. (Refer to Regional Context Plan.)

This combination of regional advantages, when developed, will provide numerous opportunities for economic development and employment creation. In order to maximise these opportunities a number of regional issues, imbalances and problems need to be addressed at both state and local planning and budgeting levels. The most important of these problems are: ƒ Environment related needs associated with heritage preservation, development and management of regional parks, waterways and main pathway links (especially along the Maribyrnong River and the coast) and the legacy of contamination. ƒ Transport problems associated with lack of development of sub-regional arterial road connections to the proposed Western Ring Road and City Link systems, the airport, docks, national rail network etc. ƒ The need to upgrade the public transport system and create new links to the airport and existing and new employment centres. ƒ Very high levels of unemployment, particularly youth unemployment, and the prevalence of low income levels in most of the Western Region, compared to the eastern suburbs, which create a need to develop most major infrastructure, services and education opportunities to help balance these disadvantages, to overcome poor image perceptions and to encourage full economic development, including, new value adding export oriented industry, commerce (especially office activity), tourism and housing.

The City of Maribyrnong is very supportive of the Western Melbourne Regional Economic Development Organisation (WREDO) and is committed to working with it to implement a regional economic development strategy designed to rectify image problems and the current lack of employment opportunities. The Council also recognises a need for all councils in the region to improve communication and consultation with each other and key state agencies - particularly those that have a major infrastructure planning and development role.

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Local

The city was formed in December 1994. Since mid-1995 it has been working on the review of former City of Footscray and former City of Sunshine strategies and policies and developing new detailed strategies and policies. Some of these have been adopted. Others are still being developed. All of them are mentioned at appropriate points in this strategic statement.

Policy Relationships

The diagram below shows how these policy and strategic planning levels inter-relate and how they have come together in this strategic statement.

Policy Levels and Relationships

REGIONAL CITY OF MARIBYRNONG STATE POLICY STRATEGIES CORPORATE PLAN

LOCAL STRATEGIES & MUNICIPAL STRATEGIC POLICIES eg:

STATEMENT (MSS) • Open Space • Housing

SUMMARY OF SPATIAL AND • Industrial Development LOCATIONAL ELEMENTS OF STRATEGIES AND POLICIES

NEIGHBOURHOOD DEVELOPMENT PLANS AND DEVELOPMENT GUIDELINES Expanded elements of strategy and policy translated to the micro level.

21.01-3 Physical Description and Land Use Patterns 16/11/2006 C31

Location and Natural Features

The eastern boundary of the City of Maribyrnong is only four kilometres west of the Melbourne Central Activities District (CAD) - the business and cultural heart of the metropolitan area. The city is located on the eastern edge of the flat western basalt plains which slope very gently to the south. The major physical feature is the Maribyrnong River, which forms the city’s northern and eastern boundaries. The lower 1.5 kilometres of the river was once an important and busy part of the Port of Melbourne and is still an important industrial area. North of this the river valley opens out and the flood plains form the city’s largest park and sports activity area. Further north and west the river is enclosed in a steep sided valley where there is the potential to re-establish its original vegetation and natural character. Another important feature is Stony Creek. This creek does not cut deeply into the plain and offers potential for a significant linear park system.

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The generally flat landscape, with views of central Melbourne near the edge, has attracted a mix of residential and industrial development and has produced a unique “look” which is really only understood and valued by those who live here. It is not uncommon to find scenes which contain surreal combinations of peaceful watercourses with water birds and animals, interrupted by stark tanks, chimneys and other industrial structures alongside well maintained workers cottages of the 19th century.

General Land Use

The city has an area of about 3,130 hectares (31.3 square kilometres) of which, in 1995, about: ƒ 1,365 hectares (44%) was zoned for residential use (a small portion of which was used for non-residential activity such as open space, private schools, and some business activity). ƒ 630 hectares (20%) was zoned for industrial use and activity. ƒ 560 hectares (18%) was reserved and used for a range of public purposes including railway reserves, arterial road reserves, state schools and tertiary colleges, public hospitals, electricity distribution, and a number of other state and local government activities. ƒ 235 hectares (7.5%) was reserved for public open space (though not quite all of this land was so used). ƒ 230 hectares (7.5%) was reserved for Commonwealth (mainly defence) purposes. ƒ 105 hectares (3%) was zoned and used for business and commercial activity (mostly shopping and business centres).

Business & Commonwealth commercial 6% activity 3% Public open space 8% Residential 44%

Public purposes 18%

Industrial 21%

Suburbs

For planning comparison we use nine suburbs within the City of Maribyrnong. These vary considerably in size, population, and physical and socio-economic character. Their characteristics are fully described in the City’s Housing Strategy and the publication “Demographic Profile for the City of Maribyrnong and Suburbs”, 1996 ABS. A number of the neighbourhood areas will undergo major urban renewal and will result in significant population increase which is documented in the Population Forecasts by Suburb 1996-2011 report prepared by i.d.consulting for the City of Maribyrnong.

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Transport Infrastructure

Two major interstate, intra-state and suburban rail routes converge at Footscray and provide the nucleus of an excellent and well patronised public transport system and opportunities for freight transfer. The city is traversed by five important east-west arterial roads and adjoins the Westgate Freeway, which provide access to the CAD, the Port of Melbourne and major road and rail freight terminals between the Maribyrnong River and the CAD. A number of these east-west routes are narrow, highly congested at times and generate much complaint from residents and traders about the degree of heavy truck traffic. The two available north-south arterial road routes through the City are disjointed and extremely inefficient. There are no effective north-south road routes in the 10 kilometres between the Western By-pass (City Link) and the Western Ring Road.

Shopping

The city hosts the two largest and most important shopping, business and entertainment centres in the Western Metropolitan Region. These are the Footscray business centre and Highpoint Shopping and Entertainment Centre. These centres are key elements in the city’s economy. Other shopping centres in the city are quite small and many businesses in them are struggling to survive. Some smaller centres provide needed and valued services and their important social and cultural role in the community need to be preserved. In particular, Yarraville, Seddon and Barkly Village have the potential for development of individual character and greater social and cultural roles.

Industry

Industrial activity is scattered widely throughout the city. It has been the dominant economic factor for over a century. Until recently, industry provided most of the city’s jobs, and was the source of its well-being. In the last three decades, however, industrial activity has declined, with jobs (particularly low skilled jobs) declining even faster. This loss of jobs has not been replaced by sufficient jobs in other sectors, leading to the city’s serious structural unemployment problem. Despite recent industrial decline the city still makes a major contribution to Victoria’s industrial production. There are currently about 600 industrial firms here, about 10% of which employ in excess of 100 people or have a turnover in excess of $20 million. The main manufacturing activities are chemicals and derivatives, metals, heavy engineering, food processing and vehicle parts and components. The city also has a number of very large transport and warehousing firms. The city’s industrial past has left a legacy of land use conflict in a number of localities, some serious contamination, many under-used, obsolete industrial buildings, significant areas of vacant industrial land, and a real image problem revolving around unattractive appearance and perceived poor environmental performance.

Housing

For much of its history, the city has provided low cost accommodation for industrial workers, and since the second world war, low income groups and wave upon wave of mostly unskilled migrants. In the eastern and south eastern part of the city, which developed in the 19th and early 20th centuries, this is reflected in the small, tightly packed single fronted, mostly weatherboard housing which prevails. In areas developed in the 1920s housing allotments and houses began to grow larger. This trend continued in the 1950s and early 1960s (though housing was still predominantly weatherboard) by which time most of the areas available for housing had been fully developed. In the late 1960s and 1970s the city experienced the walk-up flat boom of the times, which saw many of the then existing larger sites and houses redeveloped for higher density flats and some villa units. Since the mid-1980s most housing redevelopment has been in the town house style.

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Because of its long development history, housing densities vary enormously throughout the city. Originally subdivision density ranged from 7 dwellings per hectare to 28 dwellings per hectare. Modern housing densities range from about 10 dwellings per hectare to just under 50 dwellings per hectare and the average for the city is about 18.5 dwellings per hectare. At the 1996 census the city’s housing stock was 24,867 dwellings made up of separate houses, semi-detached houses, row flats, units and apartments.

Not stated 2%

Other 1%

Semi-detached, row flat, unit, apartment etc. ** 27%

Separate house 70%

The 70% ‘separate house’ figure is somewhat misleading. This form of housing ranges from detached housing on very narrow (down to 5 metre wide) blocks in large parts of Footscray, Seddon and Yarraville at densities as high as 28 dwellings per hectare, to detached dwellings on blocks 12-18 metres in width in large parts of Maribyrnong Village, Kingsville, Maidstone and Braybrook where densities range from 10 - 18 dwellings per hectare. Almost half the residential areas of the city already have medium density characteristics typical of inner urban living. Recent data indicate that median dwelling prices are increasing and that rents are increasing rapidly (with low vacancy rates). In 1996 there were 1,528 dwellings under the control of the Office of Housing and available to public tenants. Most public housing stock was concentrated in the Braybrook, Maidstone and Footscray neighbourhoods. The remaining public housing stock in Braybrook and Maidstone is scheduled for redevelopment at double existing densities. Most of the City’s housing stock is over 50 years old and much of it over 90 years old. Some of this housing is in poor condition. Maintenance of old housing stock is a problem for elderly people and those people on low incomes. While Maribyrnong’s housing stock is in better balance with household size (or theoretical needs) than the metropolitan area as a whole, there are still unsatisfied demands for larger dwellings for families and special accommodation for the aged and other groups.

Community Facilities

The residential areas are reasonably well served by primary schools. However, there is no state primary school in the north-eastern part of the city - where most new residential development will occur. Local community facilities such as libraries, neighbourhood houses, kindergartens and other child oriented facilities are generally adequate for existing

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populations. There are four existing state secondary schools, however they are not well distributed. The level of community services (including schools) will need to be constantly reviewed to ensure they meet the needs of incoming residents generated by new housing development and anticipated population increase. Open space and parkland, at about 7.5% of total land area is a relatively high proportion for an inner area and which at first glance seems to be adequate. However, most of it is located on the borders of the city (often poorly accessible because of busy arterial road barriers) and much of it is flood prone. Further, much open space in the city is undeveloped, or only partially developed. Thus, there are large parts of the city without quality open space, parkland and playgrounds. The city’s Open Space Plan details the action necessary to overcome these deficiencies.

Infrastructure

A major problem for the city is its very old, often very inadequate infrastructure. This applies equally to local infrastructure, such as local streets (especially industrial and commercial streets) and drainage systems, and to the infrastructure supplied and maintained by state agencies such as arterial roads, main drainage and public transport facilities. This inadequate infrastructure is a major constraint to achieving the city’s full potential.

Cultural Heritage

The City of Maribyrnong contains heritage places of national, state, regional and local significance. Maribyrnong’s historic, architectural, social and scientific significance is demonstrated by the following heritage features which demonstrate the various phases of our city’s development. ƒ When European settlers first arrived, this area was the traditional land of the people of the Woi wurrung language group. Currently, there are only a few places remaining known to contain physical evidence of that Aboriginal history. ƒ The area was one of the first in Victoria settled by Europeans. In Footscray, and along the Maribyrnong River, the archaeological evidence of very early dwellings and hotels is thought to survive, some under existing buildings. ƒ The City of Maribyrnong lies on the route between Melbourne and other major Victorian cities, such as Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo. Main roads and railway lines to these centres traversed the area from the mid-nineteenth century. ƒ The area’s identity as a centre for industry in Victoria stretches back to the 1840’s when the first industrial establishment was opened on the Maribyrnong River. As industry grew during the nineteenth century, it was at first drawn to the banks of the Maribyrnong River, especially at Footscray and Yarraville, but also at Maribyrnong and Braybrook. The collection of heavy industries which originated in the 1860’s to 1890’s between Whitehall Street and the Maribyrnong River, makes up one of the few remaining port-related industrial areas in Australia. Subdivisions of worker housing which were developed in close proximity to the industrial employment, such as William Angliss Meatworks and the Yarraville wharves industries, are still intact. ƒ A major strand in the industrial history of the City of Maribyrnong from the nineteenth century and throughout the first half of the twentieth century was that of production of explosives and munitions, especially at Maribyrnong and Maidstone/Footscray. The former defence sites, where this production took place, make up a relatively large proportion of the City’s land and are historically, scientifically, socially and architecturally significant. The Braybrook housing subdivision for munition workers also has significance in association with the munitions industry. ƒ The Footscray and Yarraville shopping centres contain many good examples of 1870’s and 1880’s parapet-front Victorian commercial buildings and multi-storey warehouses.

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Remaining civic buildings also make a strong architectural mark in those commercial areas. ƒ Footscray Park and Yarraville Gardens date from the development of the early townships, as do isolated early rows of trees beside roads and the river. These are now the City’s most historic landscapes. ƒ Late Victorian-era housing is evident in parts of Footscray, Seddon and Yarraville, but the Edwardian-era housing represents the period of greatest growth in house numbers, population density and factory jobs. During this growth period Footscray was paramount as Melbourne’s industrial suburb. Although the housing is modest, often simple and repetitious, these very factors represent worker’s housing in Maribyrnong and in the region. ƒ The next major era expressed by Maribyrnong’s housing was the Bungalow 1920’s expansion period evident mainly in the homogenous estates such as the Queensville area.

Contribution to the Region

In addition to the regional retail role mentioned earlier, the City of Maribyrnong has a number of important Western Region activities and functions. These include: ƒ The most comprehensive range of health services (both private and public) in the region, including the largest campus of the Western Hospital. ƒ The largest concentration of tertiary education activity in the west, specifically the Victoria University of Technology campuses located at Footscray. ƒ The West’s largest sporting arena (Whitten Oval). ƒ A significant clustering of Commonwealth, State and Local government services and activities, around the Footscray Business Centre.

21.01-4 Socio-Demographic Profile 19/01/2006 VC37 The following six tables, forming a socio-demographic profile of the City, are based on the 1996 census data.

AGE STRUCTURE CITY OF MELBOURNE STATISTICAL MARIBYRNONG DIVISION

0-4 6.93% 6.88%

5-14 10.64% 13.47%

15-24 14.52% 15.11%

25-54 44.49% 44.77%

55-74 16.95% 14.85%

75+ 6.47% 4.91%

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FINANCIALLY CITY OF MELBOURNE DISADVANTAGED MARIBYRNONG STATISTICAL DIVISION INDICATORS

Individuals with income less 73.0% 64.3% than $26,000

Family households with income 34.7% 22.5% less than $26,000

HOUSING CITY OF MELBOURNE MARIBYRNONG STATISTICAL DIVISION

Owning a house 39.0% 42.6%

Buying a house 19.7% 27.2%

Office of Housing renters 6.7% 2.9%

Private renters 32.7% 23.8%

ETHNICITY CITY OF MELBOURNE MARIBYRNONG STATISTICAL DIVISION

Persons born in non-English 39.2% 21.3% speaking background country

Persons speaking a language 50.0% 26.0% other than English

Persons speaking no English at 6.4% 2.6% all

Persons speaking Vietnamese 13.9% 1.7%

EDUCATION CITY OF MELBOURNE MARIBYRNONG STATISTICAL DIVISION

Individuals with a diploma, 13.7% 19.4% degree or higher

Individuals who left school 18.6% 13.4% younger than 15

Individuals with no qualifications 62.4% 56.9%

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EMPLOYMENT CITY OF MELBOURNE MARIBYRNONG STATISTICAL DIVISION

Labourers and related workers 11.6% 7.63%

Persons working in 22.2% 17.3% manufacturing

Managers, para-professionals 30.2% 38.3% and professionals

Unemployed 18.9% 9.1%

Ethnicity

For the past 50 years since World War II there has been a high proportion of people born in non-English speaking countries living in the City of Maribyrnong. The city still continues to attract people from non-English speaking backgrounds (NESB) and, and is home to many different ethnic groups. Significantly, the proportion of NESB people within the municipality increased by 5.6% between 1986 and 1996. Between January 1992 and January 1999 a total of 5937 new migrants arrived in the city - a large proportion of these were born in Vietnam, but there were significant numbers of people seeking haven from world trouble spots such as Africa (Ethiopians and people from Somalia), the Balkans (especially Bosnians and Serbians) and from Iraq and the Philippines. This ethnic mix and diversity is one of the great opportunities for cultural and economic development in the City.

Economic Disadvantage Indicators

According to the ABS Socio-Economic Disadvantage Index, 1991 the City of Maribyrnong was the most disadvantaged metropolitan municipality in Victoria at that time. The city continues to be faced with high unemployment (13.7% estimated for the December Quarter, 1998 - almost twice the level for Australia). The data describes a city which was aging more rapidly than many parts of the MSD, and with significant pockets of real poverty - the major causes of which are, a mis-match between employment opportunities and skill and education levels (resulting in high levels of structural unemployment), and very high proportions of recently arrived immigrants with poor English language skills. There were, in 1996, quite low levels of home purchase, high levels of public and private dwelling rental, low average incomes (with many families reliant on welfare assistance) and many other indications that many residents of the city were struggling to live in reasonable comfort. Although this data is now well out of date, there is no reason to believe that the situation has changed significantly since.

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