Activity Centres Overview
Activity centres are vibrant hubs where people shop, work, meet, relax and often live. Usually well-served by public transport, they range in size and intensity of use from local neighbourhood strip shopping centres to universities and major regional shopping malls.
Policy
Activity centres are the focus of major urban change over the next 30 years. They are a central part of Melbourne 2030, which encourages development into activity centres to foster more sustainable and vibrant communities.
Direction 1 (A more compact city) of Melbourne 2030 sets out three key policies:
- Build up activity centres as a focus for high-quality development, activity and living for the whole community
- Broaden the base of activity in centres that are currently dominated by shopping to include a wider range of services over longer hours, and restrict out-of-centre development
- Locate a substantial proportion of new housing in or close to activity centres and other strategic redevelopment sites that offer good access to services and transport
Metropolitan Melbourne has a network of activity centres of various types and sizes. Melbourne 2030 and its update classifies them into five types:
Central Activities District
There are 7 Central Activities Districts; Melbourne; Box Hill; Broadmeadows; Dandenong; Footscray; Frankston; Ringwood. Melbourne is the metropolitan area's largest centre of activity with the greatest variety of uses and the most intense concentration of development. Melbourne will continue to be the preferred location for activities that have State or national significance, and for activities that have a significant impact as trip generators, drawing users from around the metropolitan area and beyond. The designation of an additional 6 Central Activities Districts will allow Melbourne to move away from one large inner centre (focused around the Central Business District) to a number of larger centres, like mini-CBDs in the suburbs, and will be the focus of a substantial proportion of future employment growth and public investment.
For further information on Central Activities Districts visit the Central Activities Districts and Transit Cities web page.
Principal Activity Centres
These are large centres with mix of activities that are well served by public transport (e.g. Coburg, Preston, Knox City, Werribee). The size and/or location of Principal Activity Centres mean they have an especially important role to play as a focus for community activity, services and investment. Melbourne 2030 identifies them as a location for priority government and private sector investment and support. The are a total of 20 Principal Activity Centres.
Major Activity Centres
These are similar to Principal Activity Centres but serve smaller catchment areas (e.g. Moorabbin, Pakenham, Williamstown). They provide additional scope to accommodate ongoing investment and change in retail, office, community, service and residential markets. The are a total of 94 Major Activity Centres.
Specialised Activity Centres
These are important economic precincts (e.g. Monash University/Health Research Precinct, Melbourne Airport) that provide a mix of economic activities that generate high numbers of work and visitor trips. Their planning and development should reinforce their specialised economic function. The are a total of 10 Specialised Activity Centres.
Neighbourhood Activity Centres
These centres have a limited mix of uses meeting local needs and are dominated by small businesses and shops and limited community services. They offer some local convenience services and some public transport provision but are not necessarily located on the Principal Public Transport Network (PPTN). Further information about Neighbourhood Activity Centres is available from the Activity Centres Frequently Asked Questions.
What are the centres?
There are 131 designated Central Activities Districts, Principal, Major and Specialised Activity Centres across Metropolitan Melbourne.
List of Melbourne 2030 Activity Centres (PDF - 38 KB)
Map of Activity Centres and Principal Public Transport Network - Updated 2009 (PDF - 1.3 MB)Development of this network of activity centres is critical to metropolitan Melbourne’s future economic performance. The intent is to substantially reinforce the network by connecting the Central Activities Districts and Principal Activity Centres into an expanded public transport network – the Principal Public Transport Network – and encouraging more mixed-use development in appropriately located centres. Continued development at Major Activity Centres will supplement the network of Central Activities Districts and Principal Activity Centres.
As the metropolitan area grows, new activity centres are needed to serve new and changing communities. Twelve new Major Activity Centres were identified in A Plan for Melbourne’s Growth Areas (2005). These centres are: Casey Central, Hampton Park and Officer (Casey-Cardinia); Craigieburn, Craigieburn Town Centre and Greenvale (Hume); Toolern (Melton); Boardwalk, Laverton, Manor Lakes and Truganina (Wyndham); and Mernda (Whittlesea).
How can I get further information?
For further information on Activity Centres:
Visit the: Activity Centres Frequently Asked Questions
Phone: 1300 366 356 (local call cost) or TTY +61 3 9603 8806 (8.30am-5pm Monday - Friday)
Email: activity.centres@dpcd.vic.gov.au
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