Have your say
The City of Melbourne welcomes your feedback on the draft Open Space Strategy. Consultation on the draft strategy is open until Tuesday 28 February. Read on to find out more about the strategy and how to get involved.
The feedback form can be submitted electronically or printed and mailed to City of Melbourne (no stamp required).
Copies of the strategy are available for viewing at the Melbourne Town Hall and at all City of Melbourne libraries and service centres.
Alternatively, you can request a copy from the parks planning team by emailing openspace@melbourne.vic.gov.au or calling (03) 9658 9658.
Planning for future growth
The City of Melbourne manages more than 500 hectares of open space. This represents almost 15 per cent of the total area of the City of Melbourne.
To meet the needs of the growing and changing residential and worker population and to respond to issues such as climate change, we have prepared our first draft Open Space Strategy for the entire municipality.
The draft Open Space Strategy provides the overarching framework and strategic direction for open space planning in the City of Melbourne for the next 15 years.
A key objective of the strategy is to plan Melbourne’s open space network to be within easy walking distance to the community, particular in areas of forecasted population growth.
What kind of issues does the strategy address?
The strategy will provide direction on these key issues:
- the unprecedented demand for open space as Melbourne’s population continues to grow
- climate change – a decade of drought, water restrictions and extreme weather and the predicted impacts of climate change provide additional challenges in the management of parks and reserves and the role they can play in climate change adaptation
- ensuring open spaces can provide for and adapt to differing needs and uses. This includes providing people with the opportunity to connect with nature.
Draft Open Space Contributions Framework consultation
On 14 February, the Council’s Future Melbourne Committee endorsed a consultation on a draft Open Space Contributions Framework, recommending a percentage rate for public open space contributions. The framework is based on the Council’s draft Open Space Strategy.
It will provide an equitable and consistent basis for financial and land contributions from developers and government towards providing additional open space and making open space improvements over the next 15 years.
Key stakeholders will be invited to briefings. Following the Council’s adoption of the Open Space Strategy the framework will be implemented through a planning scheme amendment, which will be also be subject to public consultation.
Further information
Draft Open Space Strategy (PDF, 4MB) 
Draft Open Space Strategy (Text only, 88kb)
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