MAROONDAH INTEGRATED TRANSPORT STRATEGY

Council’s objectives for retail/commercial land uses are:• No new shopping centres, instead aim to secure and strengthen the role ofRingwood and Croydon as the retail and commercial focal points;• Discourage the development of new commercial areas and the inappropriateexpansion of existing neighbourhood and local shopping centres; and• Ensure that new and innovative commercial shopping facilities are established in,or immediately adjacent to, existing commercial precincts.The focussed provision of improved transport services to existing commercial andretail centres, particularly public transport, is an important element in achieving theseCouncil objectives.2.1.4 IndustrialIndustrial land is also an important generator of employment and freight with itsassociated travel demand.Industrial land uses in Maroondah are predominantly located in two areas:• Croydon South/Bayswater North, an area mainly accessed from Canterbury Roadand Colchester Road, and• Along New Street in Ringwood.Smaller pockets are also located along Maroondah Highway, west of Oban Road,around the periphery of the Croydon Town Centre and an area in Kilsyth South.There are approximately 560 industrially zoned sites in the City of Maroondah, whichcontain in excess of 1000 factories in the form of about 200 industrial complexes.Council’s Municipal Strategic Statement indicates that the vacant land holdings withinthe Bayswater North industrial area are sizeable and will provide considerable capacityfor future industrial developments. However, significant portions of land in this areaare owned by VicRoads and are reserved for the proposed Healesville Freeway. Majorindustries in this precinct include Dupont Australia and Kenworth Trucks.The industrial area in Ringwood between Canterbury Road and Maroondah Highwayextending along Heatherdale Road and New Street is dissected by the Mitcham toFrankston Freeway (Eastlink). Major industries in this area include the confectionerydivision of Cadbury Schweppes and the Powernet Terminal Station.Previous land zonings of Light and General Industrial have prevented theestablishment of offensive and dangerous industries with wholesale/warehousing beingthe predominant forms of industrial activity. Such activities are primarily concentratedin the Bayswater North, Ringwood (New Street/Heatherdale Road precinct) andCroydon central area.Industry plays a major role in the local economy with the municipality presentlyenjoying low vacancy rates and a solid base for industrial infrastructure.Commercial/office areas are generally located at the periphery of the RingwoodActivity Centre and are associated with major industrial uses.Stated Council objectives for industrial land use include:• Promote Maroondah as a prime location for industrial development andinvestment in the north-west region;• Ensure that industrial areas are well serviced by efficient public transport andhave access to an extensive intra - and inter - municipality road network;• Provide for the development of existing vacant industrial land; and11