26 March 2013 - Nillumbik Shire Council

OCM.029/13 Submission to Metropolitan Planning Strategy 2012 Discussion PaperAttachment 1 Council agrees that clear expectations on design and location of new development areimportant and that striving for best practice design and innovation should be inherent.Council has been working hard particularly on providing greater certainty for residentsand developers on where infill housing is encouraged and discouraged. Defining theform it should take is assisted by the comprehensive development of urban andlandscape character studies and resulting development guidelines.Roads as a feature of the public realm The concept of major boulevards to enhance distinctiveness is supported. However,there will be significant additional costs to plant and maintain street trees, as well as theinfrastructure required to separate trees and vehicles. These costs will be borne by localgovernment at the expense of other service delivery. Vertical gardens and soft pavingare also possible remedies, although maintenance and water is an issue.A creative and active population It is important that when referring to Melbourne’s creative and active population,‘Melbourne’ includes the broader metropolitan area. For example, Heidelberg andEltham are internationally renowned artistic communities.SuggestionsIt is important that the future strategy recognises the individuality of Melbourne’s suburbsand local government policies and controls that are designed to protect and enhance thatindividuality.Urban renewal initiatives should not be limited to inner Melbourne. Locations withinPrincipal and Major Activity Centres, employment hubs and areas around railwaystations deserve focus and assistance from Places Victoria.The State Government should recommit to a Creating Better Places program to leverageurban renewal and high priority design.Principle 2: A globally connected and competitive cityKey issues and possible opportunities‐ Growing a knowledge economy‐ Changing patterns of employment travel‐ A metropolitan framework based on jobs‐ Industrial and freight areas‐ A need to increase Port capacity29