INDUSTRIAL LAND USE STRATEGY - City of Darebin

4 INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT GUIDEThere is a need to retain industrial land and zoning to accommodate many hundreds ofindustrial enterprises and to protect their ability to function effectively into the future.However, some small industrial areas are no longer performing well, either becausethey are substantially vacant or because their continued industrial use restricts thedevelopment of a high quality urban environment. In a limited number of areas, theremay be the opportunity to encourage the development of an innovative mix ofindustrial, commercial and housing uses.Other areas are comprised of isolated industrial fragments, no longer suited toindustrial use due to their location or the layout and condition of the building stock.Where suitable, employment generating uses should be encouraged with some areasadaptable to a mixture of commercial and residential use.The future zoning should also recognise the need for smaller service industrial areas toprovide convenient local business and resident services.4.1 Industrial Land HierarchyA hierarchy of industrial areas existswithin the City of Darebin. These rangefrom the Core Industrial Areas which areidentified as Darebin’s longer termindustrial centres providing a range ofemployment opportunities and services tothe isolated Single User industrial areaswhich cater to one or two major industriesbut do not form part of an industrialprecinct. Between these extremes are theSecondary Industrial or EmploymentNodes, and the Local Service Businessareas, both important as providers of localjobs and services for the surroundingresidents.The hierarchy can be used to indicate therole and function of each individuallocality. By differentiating core industrialareas and secondary industrial areasCouncil can provide developers andresidents alike with a degree of certaintyfor the future and provide a rationale forthe issue of permits encouraging newindustry to locate in the most appropriateareas for their long term ongoing securityof tenure and operation.By modern standards of industrialdevelopment some of Darebin’s industrialareas may appear small and isolated.However, where they are identified asindustry/employment nodes they should beretained and protected from attrition andcompromise. Because of the small size ofthese areas, an incompatible usepotentially undermines the functioning andefficiency of the entire precinct thuscompromising the viability of the area andputting at risk the existing surroundingindustries.Other areas are identified as “EmploymentCentres” in this Strategy and rezoning isrecommended in specified instances toaccommodate a broader range of uses.Limited areas of Darebin’s industrial stockhave been acknowledged as no longersuited to industrial use and it isrecommended that they be rezoned to avariety of zones including both residentialand business zones.City of Darebin Industrial Land Use Strategy 7