26 March 2013 - Nillumbik Shire Council

OCM.029/13 Submission to Metropolitan Planning Strategy 2012 Discussion PaperAttachment 1Hewlett Packard’s decision to locate its Head Office in Tally Ho. However, the UrbanDesign Framework for the area highlights the almost total lack of retail services for boththe worker and resident population. This heavily car-based centre is now facingcompetition from the Glen Waverley Activity Centre and others that can provide improvedtransport connections and a wide range of retail services. Despite the high density ofworkers, the market has repeatedly failed to provide sufficient retail, even after adoptionof the Urban Design Framework.Attempting to artificially create more employment nodes or business parks close to‘where people live’ will not necessarily result in the ideal that the Discussion Paperappears to foresee.SuggestionsMove the focus towards social and economic resilience.Focus on providing good transport connections, particularly to socially disadvantagedareas. This is the primary means for workers to be flexible and responsive to employers.Contribute toward operational costs of localised, flexible, inclusive and integratedcommunity infrastructure and activity centres – e.g. better application of NeighbourhoodHouse funding to build social and economic resilience.Continue to focus on the maturity and development of existing Activity Centres to helpthem become retail, employment and social hubs.Do not rely on the market to provide complementary uses, even where a significantemployment cluster exists.Council strongly advocates for improved promotion of urban and building design for thedisabled as well the aged.Principle 4: Strong CommunitiesKey issues and possible opportunities‐ Fostering strong communities‐ Diverse communities‐ Finding appropriate housing‐ Affordable housing‐ Affordable living33