Strategic Planning

Creation of a new suburb in Preston East

Over the next 30 years part of Preston East – bordered by Albert and Bell Streets, Northland Shopping Centre and the Darebin Creek – will transform from large industrial sites into creative, vibrant, walkable, sustainable neighbourhoods.

We need your help to shape the vision for this new suburb, which could house up to 10,000 jobs and 20,000 residents in the future – half of Darebin’s forecast population growth.

 

We want to ensure high quality, attractive, low carbon buildings with room for families. We want a mix of busy, active spaces and quiet streets. We know higher density living will make improved services and public transport links viable. And we have a goal for more than 10,000 jobs the area in the long-term, as part of a Victorian Government employment plan for the area.

We need your input to set the vision for this new suburb. Your views will help inform planning controls, advocacy work and developer contributions that will shape the new precinct into the future.

 

A new suburb starts with a better park

The transformation of this precinct starts with a better park to cater for current and future users. The community has already provided a vision to upgrade TW Blake Park on Murray Road. Now we want to hear what you think of the draft concept plans to ensure they reflect the current and future community’s needs.

The concept plan includes lining the existing trotting track with trees, improving the sporting fields and creating zones for other activities, including a wetland, village green, playspace and a space for young people.

 

Council is seeking community involvement and feedback into helping us develop the plans and strategies for Preston East/Northland Urban Renewal Precinct. More information and opportunities to have your say is available here.

If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact us at 8470 8768 or email planningservices@darebin.vic.gov.au.

Our Fairfield Village

Our Fairfield Village is a visionary project to deliver enhanced public spaces, manage development and improve transport in and around Fairfield Village activity centre. Council officers across several disciplines are working together produce a streetscape masterplan, guidelines for new development and integrated local transport solutions.  The work is timely in light of the major redevelopment of the former Amcor Paper Mill site in Alphington, which is expected to bring increased economic competition and transport pressures to nearby Fairfield Village. 

Community involvement, including residents and businesses, is vital to ensure improvements maintain the neighbourhood village feel of the area, while revitalising and upgrading vital services and infrastructure to position Fairfield Village for long term, sustainable success. Council began consulting on issues and ideas for Fairfield Village in late 2016 with the community having further input as projects progress.  

The first project outcome has been the completion of Built Form Guidelines and a Heritage Assessment for the centre. These documents were adopted by Council on 18 December 2017 after a draft exhibition and community feedback process. 

There will be further opportunities for broad community involvement as the other projects, including the Streetscape Masterplan and transport initiatives, progress.  

More information and opportunities to have your say are available at the dedicated project website at www.yoursaydarebin.com.au/our-fairfield

Enquiries to: our.fairfield.village@darebin.vic.gov.au

There are no proposed amendments right now.

Amendment C180 - Walker Street Public Housing Estate
Ministerial Amendment which facilitates renewal of the Walker Street Public Housing Estate in Northcote. The amendment includes the rezoning of the site to Mixed Use Zone, application of the Development Plan Overlay, Parking Overlay and makes the Minister for Planning the responsible authority for the Estate. Approved and came into effect on 29 March 2018.

• View approved Amendment C180 documents

Amendment GC34 - Melbourne Water updates to flood overlays
Amends the Special Building Overlay (SBO) and Land Subject to Inundation Overlay (LSIO) maps in the Darebin and Moreland municipalities to remove properties from the overlays which are no longer subject to flooding in the 1 in 100 year storm event, in accordance with updated Melbourne Water flood modelling data.  Approved and came into effect on 01 February 2018.

• View approved Amendment GC34 documents

Darebin and Manningham Amendment GC42 - Environmentally Sustainable Development (ESD) Local Planning Policy
Introduces an Environmentally Sustainable Development local planning policy into the Darebin and Manningham Planning Scheme on an interim basis until 30 June 2019. Amendment GC42 was approved and came into effect in the Darebin and Manningham Planning Scheme 31 August 2017.

• View approved Amendment GC42 documents

For more information visit the Amendment GC42 webpage on yoursaydarebin.com.au, the Planning Services Online Consultation hub at:

• Amendment GC42 - Environmentally Sustainable Development (ESD) Local Planning Policy

Amendment C160 - Preston Market Interim Controls
Replaces Schedule 1 to Clause 37.06 (Priority Development Zone) with a new schedule to introduce mandatory height controls to the existing footprint of the Preston Market site on an interim basis until 30 June 2019. Approved and came into effect in the Darebin Planning Scheme 11 August 2017.

• View approved Amendment C160 documents

Amendment GC64 - Surplus Government Land Rezoning
Rezones the former Lakeside Secondary College site at 31 Radford Road Reservoir from Public Use Zone 2 to part Industrial 1 Zone and part Public Park and Recreation Zone. Rezones the former Ruthven Primary School site at 74-76 Glasgow Avenue, Reservoir, from Public Use Zone 2 to Public Park and Recreation Zone. Approved and came into effect in the Darebin Planning Scheme 30 June 2017.

• View approved Amendment GC64 documents

Amendment C137 - Plenty Road Land Use and Urban Design
Implements the land use and built form directions of the Plenty Road Urban Design Framework 2013. This includes rezoning of some properties fronting Plenty Road and on side street corners, application of design and development overlays to guide future development along the entire corridor including the Junction precinct, application of environment audit overlays and updated local planning policies.

Amendment C137 was approved and came into effect in the Darebin Planning Scheme 1 June 2017.

• View approved Amendment C137 documents

For more information about Amendment C137 visit the project webpage at yoursaydarebin.com.au, the Planning Services Online Consultation hub.

Amendment C153 -  Corrections to Residential Growth Zones Schedules
Corrections to Schedules 2, 3 and 5 to the Residential Growth Zone (RGZ) to ensure setback and boundary wall requirements are consistent with the Residential Built Form Guidelines, 2014 reference document.  Approved and came into effect in the Darebin Planning Scheme on 9 February 2017.

• View approved Amendment C153 documents

Amendment C136 - St Georges Road Land Use and Urban Design
Implements the land use and built form directions of the St Georges Road Urban Design Framework 2013. This includes rezoning of some properties fronting St Georges Road and on side street corners, application of design and development overlays to guide future development along the entire corridor, application of environment audit overlays and new and updated local planning policies.

Amendment C136 was approved and came into effect in the Darebin Planning Scheme on 15 September 2016.

• View approved Amendment C136 documents

For more information about Amendment C136 visit the project webpage on yoursaydarebin.com.au, the Planning Services Online Consultation hub.

Amendment C148 - Extension of Darebin Development Contributions Plan 2004-14
Amends Schedule 1 to the Development Contributions Plan Overlay (DCPO1) and the Incorporated Document City of Darebin Development Contributions Plan, June 2004 to provide a mechanism to expend unspent funds following completion of the collection period of the Darebin Development Contributions Plan 2004 in June 2014. The amended DCP facilitates the expenditure of the unspent funds on the Outdoor Multi-Sports Stadium project which will have a municipal wide benefit.

Amendment C148 was approved and came into effect in the Darebin Planning Scheme on 5 May 2016.

• View approved Amendment C148 documents

Amendment C147 - Residential Growth Zone
Applies the Residential Growth Zone (RGZ) to specified land in the Northland Urban Renewal Precinct, Reservoir, Fairfield and Preston Central, along with Design and Development Overlays and updates to local planning policies.

Amendment C147 was referred to the Residential Zones Standing Advisory Committee for consideration. The Amendment was exhibited in October 2014 and a public hearing of submissions held in November 2014. The proposal was approved by the Minister for Planning in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee and came into effect in the Darebin Planning Scheme on 15 October 2015. 

• View approved Amendment C147 documents

Amendment C144 - New Residential Zones Stage 1
Applies the new Neighbourhood Residential Zone (NRZ) and General Residential Zone (GRZ) to local areas across the municipality as the first step in a staged implementation of the new residential zones in Darebin. 

Amendment C144 was referred to the Residential Zones Standing Advisory Committee for consideration. The Amendment was exhibited in April 2014 and a public hearing of submissions conducted in May 2014. The proposal was approved by the Minister for Planning in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee and came into effect in the Darebin Planning Scheme on 30 October 2014. 

• View approved Amendment C144 documents

Amendment C138 - Local Planning Policy Changes
Replaces the existing Municipal Strategic Statement (MSS) at Clause 21 of the Darebin Planing Scheme with a new format MSS. The new MSS  includes provisions for the implementation of the Darebin Housing Strategy 2013, Darebin Economic Land Use Strategy 2013 and Reservoir Structure Plan 2012. Amendment C138 also includes updates to local planning policies at Clause 22.

Amendment C138 was approved and came into effect in the Darebin Planning Scheme on 15 October 2015.

• View approved Amendment C138 documents

Looking for an Amendment that is not listed here?  A complete history of amendments to the Darebin Planning Scheme is available online from the Department of Environment Land Water and Planning at http://planningschemes.dpcd.vic.gov.au/updates-and-amendments

Darebin Economic Land Use Strategy 
The Darebin Economic Land Use Strategy responds to Darebin’s vibrant, changing economy and the need to better support businesses, industry and jobs. The Strategy provides a framework for industrial, retail and commercial land use in Darebin over the next 20 years.  

• Darebin Economic Land Use Strategy 2014
• Literature Review and and Background Report

Darebin Housing Strategy
The Darebin Housing Strategy is helping make Darebin fairer, more liveable and sustainable. The Strategy addresses current needs for affordable housing; population growth and development pressure, and the need to protect Darebin’s unique heritage and natural environments.

• Darebin Housing Strategy 2013 (Revised 2015)

High Street Study
High Street is the spine of Darebin and one of the longest, vibrant commercial strips in Melbourne. The High Street Study will improve community and transport links along High Street creating vibrant, liveable communities.

• High Street Precinct Guidelines
• High Street Study Urban Design Framework

Junction Urban Master Plan
The Junction Urban Master Plan will transform the existing Junction Precinct in Preston into a place that is green and attractive with a unique urban character. The Plan focuses on re-claiming public spaces, developing businesses and communities and making the Junction more liveable.

• Junction Urban Master Plan and Reference Document

Northcote Structure Plan
The Northcote Structure Plan outlines how Northcote can grow and remain a great place to live, work, shop and relax. The Plan was developed with considerable community consultation and is a key product of the Northcote-Place Making Project undertaken in 2007. It developed a shared vision for Northcote owned by the community, key stakeholders and Council.

• Northcote Structure Plan

Preston Central Structure Plan
Preston Central is one of the largest traditional, multi-dimensional activity centres in northern Melbourne and a major focus for business, shopping, community, culture and recreation. The Preston Central Structure Plan guides land use and development to enable a mix of land uses which stimulate economic growth and maintain the regional significance of the centre, and provide well designed housing and improved streetscapes for residents and visitors.

• Preston Central Structure Plan

Reservoir Structure Plan
Multicultural, open hearted and ‘beautifully ordinary’ the suburb of Reservoir is ready to shine. The Reservoir Structure Plan is a 20 year Plan to make Reservoir a more connected, diverse and attractive place with upgraded services, facilities, transport, public space, buildings and environment.

• Reservoir Structure Plan

St Georges Road and Plenty Road Corridors Urban Design Framework
St Georges Road and Plenty Road are in transition as Darebin grows and evolves as a popular place to live. The Framework sets clear directions for residential and mixed-use growth along the corridors with an emphasis on achieving well-planned intensification through high quality design responses.

•  St Georges Road and Plenty Road Corridors Urban Design Framework

 

Looking for another document?  Try the Darebin Planning Scheme Reference and Incorporated Documents or the Council Strategies sections.

Doing research or needing statistics? Visit the Facts and Figures section for demographic profiles, projections and other useful data and research on the City of Darebin and its suburbs.