enn 2030 Monthly email update

ISSN 1834-3856 July - August 2007

New Department of Planning and Community Development Announced – 2 August 2007 Premier has announced a new Department of Planning and Community Development, led by Minister for Planning, Justin Madden, to deliver improvements in urban development, particularly in the outer suburbs and regions. Mr Brumby said the new department would focus on building strong local communities across the state. He said that community development would be at the heart of planning and urban development, with issues such as housing affordability, liveability and local service delivery among the highest priorities. The new department will replace the Department of Victorian Communities and will include the divisions and authorities that currently report to the Minister for Planning within the Department of Sustainability and Environment. For more information read the Premier announces new cabinet media release.

Melbourne 2030 Audit – Submissions Process Now Open – 21 August 2007 Minister for Planning, Justin Madden, has announced the opening of a public submissions process as part of the first five-yearly audit of . Mr Madden welcomes constructive feedback to assist with fine-tuning the way we plan for the future and manage growth. He said the process is about listening to the wider community and learning how we can improve the implementation of Melbourne 2030. A user-friendly electronic guide to submissions and the submissions process is available online at the Melbourne 2030 Audit webpage. Submissions can be made until 24 September 2007. For more information read the Call for public submissions on Melbourne 2030 media release.

Triple Bottom Line Approach to Dandenong The revitalisation of central Dandenong is now well underway. Investment in new infrastructure and development is being delivered through the State Government's $290 million revitalisation program. In parallel with this program is the Dandenong Development Board's focus on complementary initiatives to address social and economic issues in and around the Greater Dandenong region. The Board has been working with local and state agencies on a variety of projects that aim to improve social and economic outcomes for the community. The Board has also recently completed the 'Dandenong Industry & Labour Market Project'. The Project collated and analysed up-to-date data on employment, workforce skills and training needs in the region. Work is now underway to co-ordinate a targeted approach to the further development of the skills of the local workforce. The Dandenong Redevelopment is part of the Melbourne 2030’s Transit Cities program.

Footscray Renewal: Station Upgrade a Step Closer – 7 August 2007 The Minister for Planning, Justin Madden has announced plans to improve Footscray Station as part of the $52.1 million Footscray Renewal project. The upgrades include a modern pedestrian bridge and public forecourt. The project is part of the Transit Cities program which is a Melbourne 2030 initiative. The Minister commented that “The Footscray Transit City development is of state significance and a community priority”. The Transit City development includes the revitalisation of the Nicholson Street Mall, main street upgrades and facilitation of the development around the station. For more information read the Footscray Renewal: Station Upgrade a Step Closer media release or visit the Melbourne 2030 Footscray Transit Cities webpage.

Architects Appointed to Plan Southbank Precinct - 14 August 2007 Minister for the Arts Lynne Kosky and Minister for Planning Justin Madden have announced that Australian architects Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp (fjmt) have been appointed to design a new cultural precinct at Southbank. The precinct will be transformed into a major pedestrian-friendly arts and cultural attraction. Mr Madden said the redevelopment at Southbank would provide better pedestrian access to the venues and ensure their integration with the public space. The Southbank Cultural Precinct Redevelopment delivers on Melbourne 2030 initiatives. For more information read the Architects Appointed to Plan Southbank Precinct media release.

A Victorian Government initiative

Boost for New Communities in Growth Areas The Growth Areas Authority (GAA) is undertaking the Creating Liveable New Communities Project to identify key elements needed to create sustainable new communities in Melbourne's growth areas. The project aims to develop a strategic framework and ‘best practice’ tools to enable the GAA and partner organisations to create safe, healthy, active and strong communities. Features of the new communities will include walkable neighbourhoods and clustering of services and facilities close to public transport. The project will contribute to delivering the planning principles of Melbourne 2030 by promoting excellent neighbourhood design and making people feel safe.

The GAA is also fast-tracking work on eight Precinct Structure Plans for new, large-scale communities in Melbourne's growth areas. Precinct Structure Plans involve planning for whole communities of up to 30,000 people. The first of the eight plans being rolled out is Cranbourne East, in the Casey area. The GAA is finalising an agreement with landholders to deliver a plan by the end of the year so re-zoning can start early next year. It will ultimately be home to 15,000 people. This planning is part of the Melbourne 2030 plan to manage development in growth areas.

Further information on the Creating Liveable New Communities Project and precinct structure planning is available on the GAA website.

Contracts Awarded for Four New Premium Stations – 31 July 2007 Minister for Public Transport, Lynne Kosky, has announced contracts to upgrade the Upfield, Darling, Mentone and Watsonia railway stations to premium status. Ms Kosky said the upgraded stations would provide better service for public transport users and would be staffed from the first train in the morning to the last train at night. The works are expected to be completed by the end of December. The station upgrades are part of the government’s $10.5 billion Meeting Our Transport Challenges action plan and help meet the Melbourne 2030 initiative of improving the public transport network. For more information read the Contracts awarded for four new premium stations media release.

Amendment Timeframes Reduced by Pre-set Panel Hearing Dates A new planning advisory note explaining how to pre-set a directions hearing and panel hearing date prior to exhibition is now available on the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) Planning webpages. Pre-setting panel hearing dates provides an opportunity to shorten the planning scheme amendment process. Parties will know when the panel hearing is anticipated to be held and will be able to prepare in advance so that the panel hearing can start without delay. This advisory note contributes to the Melbourne 2030 initiative of achieving better planning decisions through more efficient processes.

Victorians to Benefit from Online Planning Services – 19 July 2007 Minister for Planning, Justin Madden, has launched two new online planning services – interactive planning maps and a planning property report service - which will make ’s planning system more user-friendly and easier to navigate. For the first time, the public is now be able to access planning maps, planning controls and planning reports via the internet by doing a search using only a property address. The one stop online planning shop is an excellent example of the government’s commitment to make the planning system more open and accessible, and contributes to the Melbourne 2030 initiative of achieving better planning decisions through more effective and efficient processes. The online planning services are available on the DSE Planning webpages. For further information read the Victorians to benefit from online planning services media release.

Dwelliographics Report Now Available The Dwelliographics report is an analysis of the purchase of dwellings by various household types. It is now available on the DSE Housing and Residential Land webpage. The report provides an overview of research to date and highlights major findings at the metropolitan Melbourne scale. Dwelliographics provides graphs and commentary on key trends emerging between 1991 and 2001 for overall metropolitan Melbourne and for all 31 metropolitan councils.

Record $16.7 Billion Financial Year for Victoria’s Building Industry – 27 July 2007 Victoria has recorded a 7% increase in building activity in 2006-07, with building permit activity for the financial year totalling a record $16.7 billion. Minister for Planning, Justin Madden, said the results demonstrated the high level of activity in Victoria’s building industry and the state’s booming growth. “For the 2006-07 financial year, nearly 40% of building permit activity was recorded in inner Melbourne, while outer Melbourne accounted for 36.8% and regional Victoria 23.4%” he said. Total domestic and residential permit activity rose by $539 million to $10.216 billion, which will boost Victoria’s housing stock in the

A Victorian Government initiative

future. “Given our growing population, it is reassuring news that we will have a strong supply of new homes to ensure Victoria continues to have more affordable housing than the national average” Mr Madden said. For more information read the Record $16.7 billion financial year for Victoria’s building industry media release.

Opening of New Platform Tram Stops in the City – 16 July 2007 Minister for Public Transport, Lynne Kosky, has opened new platform tram stops at four city locations - on Bourke Street at Spencer Street and Spring Street, on Flinders Street at Elizabeth Street and on Spencer Street at the Casino/Exhibition Centre tram stop. The new stops include ramps for wheelchair and pram access, passenger shelters, lighting and real-time tram information. “The new platform tram stops aim to increase the use of trams into, around and out of the city, by making them accessible for all passengers,” Ms Kosky said. “Platform tram stops make it easier and quicker for passengers to board and alight trams, and so improve tram travel times and passenger safety”. The tram improvement works are part of the government’s Think Tram program and contribute to the Melbourne 2030 initiative of upgrading public transport services. For more information read the Opening of new platform tram stops in the city media release.

Local Transport Improvements for Rural, Regional and Outer Metropolitan Areas. A number of rural, regional and outer metropolitan communities will receive government grants to improve transport for isolated residents. The funding will help communities develop local solutions for areas where public transport is lacking and look for ways to make better use of existing assets and services, such as school buses, route buses, community buses, volunteer drivers and taxis. Communities to benefit from the grants include: • Ballarat - $243,000 through the Connect to Ballarat project; • Melton and Moorabool - $333,000 through the Connecting Communities project; • Casey and Cardinia - $358,800 through the Bringing it Together project; and • Mornington Peninsula Shire - $250,000 through the Transport Solutions project. The grants contribute to the Melbourne 2030 initiative to coordinate development of all transport modes. For more information read the media releases: Better Transport for Ballarat District Residents 25 July 2007, Better Local Transport in Melton and Moorabool 26 July 2007, Local Transport Lift for Casey and Cardinia 31 July 2007 and Better Connections for Mornington Peninsula Residents 31 July 2007.

Local Government Sustainable Development Conference 2007 The 2007 Local Government Sustainable Development Conference will be held in Melbourne on 11-12 September 2007. The conference will focus on reducing the carbon footprint, water sustainability, waste minimisation and sustainable developments in the built environment. It will feature case studies by local government professionals and incorporate the Sustainability Awards. The awards recognise the contributions made by environment professionals and councillors in progressing sustainability at the local level. For further information or to register please visit the conference website.

Melbourne 2030 Implementation Program For more information on Melbourne 2030, visit http://www.melbourne2030.vic.gov.au

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A Victorian Government initiative