Table of Contents - Nillumbik Shire Council

Hurstbridge Township Strategy1. IntroductionThe Hurstbridge Township Strategy is an integrated land use strategy for the future use,conservation and development of the township over the next 10 to 20 years.The Strategy documents the preferred form of use, conservation and development of landthat should take place in Hurstbridge and the actions to achieve this.The Strategy will be implemented through the Nillumbik Planning Scheme, Council’scapital works programs and other Council projects and programs.The Strategy has been prepared within the context established by State Planning Policy,the Nillumbik Municipal Strategic Statement and the Nillumbik Council Plan.1.1 BackgroundPrior to Council amalgamations in 1994, parts of the Hurstbridge township were containedwithin three municipalities being the former Shires of Eltham, Diamond Valley andWhittlesea. This arrangement limited the development of consistent policies and planningcontrols across the area. Hurstbridge and its surrounds are now located within the Shire ofNillumbik allowing, for the first time, the development of an integrated strategy for thearea as a whole. The Strategy is an initiative of Nillumbik Shire Council to provide avision and strategic land use plan for the development of the township.Previous studies have focused on landscape and design, and retail and traffic issuesaffecting the commercial precinct of the Hurstbridge township. This Strategy will build onprevious work undertaken, but extends this further to consider a broader range of land useplanning issues across the township and in the surrounding area.1.2 Strategy ObjectivesThe project objectives as contained within the Project Brief prepared are:• Review, consolidate and update past studies to provide an overview of the townshipand an assessment of the relative success of previous planning approaches;• To identify the requirements of the range of users of the township, including youth,elderly and disabled;• Identify land use planning issues and formulate actions to address these issues;• Achieve a community consultation process for the duration of the project whichaddresses the needs of all stakeholders and provides for the identification of a widerange of issues;• Develop community participation and ownership of the Strategy;• Involve the community, government agencies and key stakeholders in thedevelopment of the Strategy;• Provide an integrated strategy that addresses current and future land use planningissues;• Promote safe and efficient transport and movement systems;• Protect and enhance the design and landscape qualities of the township;• Ensure adequate provision of land for various forms of use and development,consistent with the overall strategy for the township; ensure infrastructure servicesare provided in an efficient and environmentally sensitive manner;Nillumbik Shire Council – March 2002 1