The Municipal Planning Strategy will make Melbourne a better place to live, work, study and visit by investing in new growth areas such as Docklands, Macauley and Arden, to cater for thousands of new residents.
The strategy plots how Melbourne will look and feel over the next 10 to 20 years with a focus on affordable housing, tackling climate change, creating jobs and delivering sustainable high-quality development and design.
Acting Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece said the Municipal Planning Strategy is one of the most forward-looking plans since ‘Postcode 3000’.
“Not since the 1990’s have we planned so extensively for the future of Melbourne,” the Acting Lord Mayor said.
“Over the past 30 years, our city has changed at a rapid pace, bringing both amazing opportunities and tough challenges. If we want to retain our place as Australia’s most livable city then we need to have a clear blueprint.
“The Municipal Planning Strategy lays out a vision for the Melbourne we want to create together and combine all of Council’s plans and policies into one cohesive document with a clear path for the future.”
The Municipal Planning Strategy vision for a ‘city of opportunity’ is underpinned by six goals:
- Economy of the future: Creating more jobs and a stronger economy across a range of existing and new industries
- Unique identity and place: Protecting Melbourne’s distinctive places, buildings, people and culture
- Climate emergency: Leaning into reducing emissions to net zero by 2030 and waste to net zero by 2040
- Access and affordability: Reducing economic and social inequality
- Safety and wellbeing: Improving safety for everyone who lives, visits or works in the city
- Aboriginal Melbourne: Celebrating First Nation’s culture, lore, knowledge and heritage
Planning portfolio deputy lead Councillor Rohan Leppert said the Municipal Planning Strategy was a comprehensive plan covering a huge amount of ground.
“The Municipal Planning Strategy is the culmination of years of work,” Cr Leppert said.
“Council has undertaken extensive work and community consultation to develop the best strategies and policies for our city from the affordable housing and transport strategies, to our declaration of a climate and biodiversity emergency and many more.
“Moving forward, the Municipal Planning Strategy will help us to make this work a reality. Now we want to hear from everyone who works, lives, studies or does business in Melbourne what they think.”
The Municipal Planning Strategy has been informed by the draft City Spatial Plan, which outlines the place-based strategies for growth across the municipality covering everywhere from East Melbourne, Docklands and Southbank to the new Arden and Macaulay precincts, Fishermen's Bend and West Melbourne.
Population growth will be catered for in new suburb expansion that is supported by new infrastructure, such as key new tram routes connecting Spencer Street and West Melbourne, and the city to Fishermans Bend.
“The opening of five new metro stations across Melbourne will also create major new major civic hubs which will reshape work and living patterns across the city,” the Acting Lord Mayor said.
The Municipal Planning Strategy and draft City Spatial Plan will be considered by Councillors at the July 19 Future Melbourne Committee meeting, before being released for public exhibition and consultation later this year.
