The strategic framework > Key directions > A more compact city

A more compact city

We must take full advantage of our existing settlement patterns and current investments in transport and communications, water and sewerage, and social facilities. This is for reasons of efficiency and to meet the changing needs of the population.

Melbourne 2030 encourages concentration of new development at activity centres near current infrastructure, in areas best able to cope with that change while meeting the objective of sustainable development. Development will be required to respond to its landscape, valued built form and cultural context.

An urban growth boundary (see Direction 2, Better management of urban growth) will be used as a tool to help achieve a more compact city.

Melbourne 2030 will support and encourage development opportunities in line with the proposed household distributions for new households, set out in Figure 17. Compact city, in order to:

• encourage a greater proportion of new dwellings at strategic redevelopment sites (particularly Principal Activity Centres and Major Activity Centres) within established metropolitan urban areas, to reduce pressure for urban expansion
• reduce the share of new dwellings in greenfield and dispersed development areas while increasing housing choice

Figure 17. Compact city - click for more detail

Established residential areas
The valued character of established parts of the city will be protected through application of the residential development provisions (ResCode) and other planning measures. This includes items of cultural heritage, historic buildings, green spaces and valued suburban streetscapes.

Locations for new development
More development – housing and employment – will be accommodated in selected parts of established areas to encourage more effective use of infrastructure for human services, public transport and water, power and communications. This will also reduce pressure for inappropriate developments in established areas with valued urban character and streetscapes.

Existing activity centres (with their substantial local community and business investment) will be the focus of much new development.

Melbourne 2030 will reinforce and expand the existing network of Principal, Major and Neighbourhood Activity Centres. Public transport links between centres will be improved to provide a range of choices for shopping and other services.

Most Principal, Major and Neighbourhood Activity Centres will be mixed-use, including retail, commercial, entertainment, education, health and community services. Principal and Major Activity Centres will demonstrate a range of housing forms and densities and high-quality urban design.

The focus on Principal Activity Centres builds on the preferred trend in the development and retail sectors in recent years. The Government has already announced five of these centres, (Dandenong, Frankston, Ringwood, Sydenham and Footscray) as the locations for major redevelopments under the Transit Cities program and has allocated $10 million over the next four years to facilitate development.

New opportunities to undertake Transit City-style projects will be examined, starting with Box Hill, Epping, Broadmeadows and Werribee.

The Government will also work with each of the local councils responsible for Principal Activity Centres to develop strategic plans for each of these centres and identify potential improvements to public transport and areas for redevelopment. Priority will be given to Sunshine, Knox City/Towerpoint, Cranbourne, Doncaster, Narre Warren/Fountaingate and Coburg.

The possible upgrading of transport services to big stand-alone centres such as Chadstone, Southland, Doncaster, Highpoint and Airport West will receive particular attention. Solutions may include better bus interchanges, new stations or extending tram services. The current project to extend the Burwood tram to Knox City is an example of what can be done as funds become available.

Major Activity Centres are also potential sites for significant developments and infill building programs. VicTrack is working on a city wide program of identifying opportunities for redevelopment of stations, use of airspace over rail tracks and more productive use of associated railway land.

Focusing a substantial proportion of this development at activity centres that have good access to the Principal Public Transport Network (see Direction 8, Better transport links) will help to reduce car trips and decrease the share of trips that need to be made by car. It will make the most of access to existing facilities and services, ensure that centres remain viable and vibrant, and reduce development pressures on other existing urban areas.

Good urban design in these locations will encourage sustainability, a sense of place and cultural identity. Excellence in urban design (see Direction 5, A great place to be) will be integral to implementing Melbourne 2030.

Making car-based centres work better

Figure 18. Car bases centres - click for more detail