Why do we need to look ahead? Victorians face important choices about how metropolitan Melbourne and the surrounding region should develop in the next 30 years. Population and development pressures are changing the environment in which decisions have to be made, and are affecting the shape and the flavour of our city. Melbourne 2030 articulates a detailed plan that takes the long-term view and is based on consultation with the community. Metropolitan Melbourne’s current shape reflects more than a century of work by those who developed the rail network from 1880 onwards, and by the generations of planners who crafted plans for the city since 1929 (see ‘Melbourne’s planning history’). Melbourne 2030 builds on the earlier plans and the infrastructure we have inherited while responding to the new issues confronting us. It uses current views of the future and an understanding of the past as the basis for a long-term plan to mould the city. It tackles these key questions – to which there are no simple or permanent answers: • how best can we provide for a growing population and ensure that we live within available resources of water, land and energy? • how should development be focused and what pattern of land use and transport should we invest in for a better future? • in which areas should we discourage or prevent development in order to retain the quality of natural environments across the Port Phillip and Westernport catchments and beyond? • what changes should we make to our lifestyles, the technologies we use and the way we organise the city to reduce resource usage and our impact on our living environment? • what additional social infrastructure will be needed to support a growing city, and how will we ensure this is available for all when it is needed? Melbourne’s planning history 1922 – Metropolitan Town Planning Commission is established 1929 – report of the Metropolitan Town Planning Commission proposes a planning scheme to prevent ‘misuse’ of land and protect property values, highlighting traffic congestion, the distribution of recreational open space and haphazard intermingling of land uses 1954 – first comprehensive planning scheme for the metropolitan area, prepared by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works (MMBW), introduces the concept of district business centres and focuses major retail activity on designated centres on the public transport system that also provide central locations for housing, transport, employment and community activity 1971 – the MMBW report, Planning Policies for the Melbourne Metropolitan Region, introduces long-term conservation and development policies through growth corridor and green wedge principles, and contains outward growth to a limited number of areas on the edge of the city 1980 – the MMBW’s Metropolitan Strategy reinforces the 1954 policy on district centres, encourages development in existing areas, and concentrates housing, transport, employment and community facilities at highly accessible points 1983 – new district centre zones encourage office development in 14 centres and restrict it elsewhere 1987 – Shaping Melbourne’s Future reinforces the thrust of the 1980 Strategy 1995 – Living Suburbs relaxes metropolitan- wide planning direction and controls, for example, on green wedge boundaries and the hierarchy of activity centres, and devolves much decision-making to local level or on a case-by-case basis Planning for sustainable growth Page 11 We need a consistent planning strategy across Melbourne Public forum, Box Hill, November 2001 The basis for Melbourne 2030
Transcript
Why do weneed to lookahead?Victorians face important choices about howmetropolitan Melbourne and thesurrounding region should develop in thenext 30 years. Population and developmentpressures are changing the environment inwhich decisions have to be made, and areaffecting the shape and the flavour of ourcity. Melbourne 2030 articulates a detailedplan that takes the long-term view and isbased on consultation with the community.
Metropolitan Melbourne’s current shapereflects more than a century of work bythose who developed the rail network from1880 onwards, and by the generations ofplanners who crafted plans for the city since1929 (see ‘Melbourne’s planning history’).
Melbourne 2030 builds on the earlier plansand the infrastructure we have inheritedwhile responding to the new issuesconfronting us. It uses current views of thefuture and an understanding of the past asthe basis for a long-term plan to mould the city.
It tackles these key questions – to whichthere are no simple or permanent answers:
• how best can we provide for a growingpopulation and ensure that we livewithin available resources of water, landand energy?
• how should development be focused andwhat pattern of land use and transportshould we invest in for a better future?
• in which areas should we discourage orprevent development in order to retainthe quality of natural environmentsacross the Port Phillip and Westernportcatchments and beyond?
• what changes should we make to ourlifestyles, the technologies we use andthe way we organise the city to reduceresource usage and our impact on ourliving environment?
• what additional social infrastructure willbe needed to support a growing city, andhow will we ensure this is available for allwhen it is needed?
Melbourne’splanninghistory1922 – Metropolitan Town PlanningCommission is established
1929 – report of the Metropolitan TownPlanning Commission proposes a planningscheme to prevent ‘misuse’ of land andprotect property values, highlighting trafficcongestion, the distribution of recreationalopen space and haphazard intermingling ofland uses
1954 – first comprehensive planningscheme for the metropolitan area, preparedby the Melbourne and Metropolitan Boardof Works (MMBW), introduces the conceptof district business centres and focusesmajor retail activity on designated centreson the public transport system that alsoprovide central locations for housing,transport, employment and communityactivity
1971 – the MMBW report, Planning Policiesfor the Melbourne Metropolitan Region,introduces long-term conservation anddevelopment policies through growthcorridor and green wedge principles, andcontains outward growth to a limitednumber of areas on the edge of the city
1980 – the MMBW’s Metropolitan Strategyreinforces the 1954 policy on districtcentres, encourages development in existingareas, and concentrates housing, transport,employment and community facilities athighly accessible points
1983 – new district centre zones encourageoffice development in 14 centres and restrictit elsewhere
1987 – Shaping Melbourne’s Futurereinforces the thrust of the 1980 Strategy
1995 – Living Suburbs relaxes metropolitan-wide planning direction and controls, forexample, on green wedge boundaries andthe hierarchy of activity centres, anddevolves much decision-making to local levelor on a case-by-case basis
Planning for sustainable growth Page 11
We need a consistent planning
strategy across Melbourne
Public forum, Box Hill, November 2001
The basis forMelbourne 2030
Page 12 Melbourne 2030
Growing and linkingall of VictoriaIn Growing Victoria Together, theGovernment made a specific commitment to‘growing and linking all of Victoria’. Fast,reliable and efficient transport andcommunications infrastructure is essential tolink and connect our people, ourcommunities and our businesses. At thesame time, we need to rebuild Victoria’ssocial infrastructure, link our regional centresto Melbourne and revitalise our suburbs.
Much has already been done to fulfil thiscommitment, for example:
• expanded job opportunities across theState – more than 33.3 per cent of alljob growth in the past two years hasbeen in rural and regional Victoria
• establishment of the RegionalInfrastructure Development Fund
• allocation of funding for improved railservices – fast train services betweenMelbourne and Ballarat, Bendigo,Geelong and the Latrobe Valley; thereopening of country rail passenger linesbetween Melbourne and Mildura,Leongatha, Bairnsdale and Ararat
The Government’svision for Victoria The Government’s Growing Victoria Togetherpolicy, released in 2002, envisages that by2010 we will be a State where:
• innovation leads to thriving industriesthat generate high-quality jobs
• protecting the environment for futuregenerations is built into everything we do
• we have caring, safe communities inwhich opportunities are shared acrossthe board
• all Victorians have lifelong access tohealth and education services of thehighest quality.
This policy links the issues important toVictorians, the priority actions that theGovernment needs to take next and themeasures the Government will use to showprogress. It is a basis for involving allVictorians in the ongoing challenge –working together to build and deliver a fair,sustainable and prosperous future.
A new Strategy is an important way ofachieving this broad vision.
(planned for 2003–04); thestandardisation of Victoria’s regional railsystem so that it can be connected tothe national network; upgrading of therail track to Warrnambool
• committed funding for major roads inMelbourne and regional areas – theScoresby Integrated Transport Corridorand the Albury/Wodonga Bypass on theHume Highway
• upgrades to major highways – such asthe Princes Freeway West (GeelongRoad), Calder Highway and GoulburnValley Highway – and to infrastructure,with the replacement of Murray Riverbridges including Wahgunyah, Cobram,Echuca and Robinvale
What are theunderlying keyissues?
The basis for Melbourne 2030
Planning for sustainable growth Page 13
• the start of strategic work in regions andwith local councils and communities –regional action plans for Ballarat andBendigo, and the Great Ocean RoadRegion Strategy
• completion of strategic work in regions –the Framework for the future report forthe Latrobe Valley (with $105 millioncommitted for implementation) and theNorth West Freight Transport Strategy
• committed funding for socialinfrastructure – the Camp Street Projectin Ballarat.
Melbourne 2030 makes an importantcontribution to this theme. It emphasises theimportance of connections betweenmetropolitan Melbourne and the regionalcities of Greater Geelong, Ballarat, GreaterBendigo and Latrobe, and the small townsand settlements in this region of Victoria. Inthese terms, it looks at maintaining andupgrading transport and telecommunicationslinks, and dealing with planning issues.
Improvements in these linkages will benefitaccessibility and communications around theState. Managing the land-use anddevelopment issues that occur because ofthe improved linkages will also benefit theState by making the most efficient use ofpublic and private resources and reducingthe long-term call on government resources.
esdaled
Robinvale
rtlandlandand
MallacootalllacootallMal
Figure 2. Growing and linking all of Victoria
500 100 km
NORTH
Rail
Existingstandard-gauge rail
Freeway
Highway
Passenger railservice restoration
Regional fast rail
Rail standardisation project
Rail upgrade
Major roadimprovements
Stronger linkages
2002 committed regional projects
Bridge
Rail
Road
Page 14 Melbourne 2030
Planning forpopulation growthA major driver of change is the anticipatedincrease in population and households overthe next 30 years. Current trends indicatethat for metropolitan Melbourne this couldbe up to one million additional people, or620,000 new households. Should the declinein our birthrate reverse or levels ofinternational migration increase, the rate ofpopulation growth would accelerate so thatmore people would need to beaccommodated in a shorter time frame.There would be consequent increasedpressure on land for industry and commerceand on the transport system.
3.4
3.6
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4.8
2001 2006 2011 2016 2021 2026 2031
Year
Pop
ula
tio
n (
mill
ion
s)
High
Medium
Low
Figure 3. Population growth projections forthe Melbourne Statistical Division, 2001–31Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Series C, R & S Projections,2000, modified for the region by Department of Infrastructure
2001 2006 2011 2016 2021 2026 2031
Year
Ind
ex
100105110115120125130135140145150
Population+925,000
Households+620,000
Figure 4. Projected growth of population andhouseholds for the Melbourne StatisticalDivision, 2001–31 Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics Series R (Trend) Projection,base year 1999. Assumptions are for national net overseasmigration of +90,000, net interstate migration to Victoria +2,000and for the total fertility rate (TFR) to fall to 1.52
1971
2001
2031
Nu
mb
er o
f p
eop
le (
tho
usa
nd
s)
350
300
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+
Age
Figure 5. Population by age group, MelbourneStatistical Division (trend projection)Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, 1971 Census andSeries R Projections, 2000, and Department of Infrastructure MSDprojections.
The basis for Melbourne 2030
The expected increasein population is
equivalent to adding a city the size of
Adelaide
Planning for sustainable growth Page 15
The Government believes it is in Victoria’sbest interest to promote steady populationgrowth on an environmentally sustainablebasis. In 2002, it sponsored the nationalPopulation Summit to broaden public debateon the national policy settings required toaddress the range of population issues whichconfront Victoria – most notably:
• the need to tackle the causes of ourdeclining birthrate
• the importance of planning for an ageingpopulation
• the desirability of attracting more skilledmigrants
• the uneven distribution of populationgrowth
• the need to reverse the loss of peoplefrom many rural areas.
Coupleswithoutchildren
Lone-personhouseholds
Otherhousehold
types*
*Other household types = couples with children,single-parent families, group households, etc.
Figure 6. Projected share, by household type,of the projected 620,000 additionalhouseholds, Victoria, 2001–31 Source: Department of Infrastructure consultancy,unpublished, 1999
Melbourne 2030 is not a vehicle forpromoting population growth. Futuredevelopment will only proceed at the pacethat the economy will support and thatpopulation growth demands. However, it isimportant to plan ahead so that we can copewith an increase in population should theCommonwealth Government change currentpopulation policy settings.
In addition, we must understand not onlythe implications of projected growth, but thenature of population dynamics. For example,while the average number of people in eachhousehold is getting smaller, new houses arebecoming larger (expanding from an averagefloor size of 169.2 m2 in 1984 to 226.7 m2
in 2001), with consequent resourceimplications. To achieve sustainability,programs must be in place to minimise the‘ecological footprint’ of the city, and toensure that the inevitable growth ininfrastructure matches demand yet does notdamage the liveability for which metropolitanMelbourne is widely renowned.
‘There’s not enough
variety of housing to
meet people’s needs’
Public forum, Moorabbin,
November 2000
Page 16 Melbourne 2030
Public infrastructureinvestment Growth and change require considerableinvestment in infrastructure and services ofall types. In 2002–03, the Government’sinvestment in the transport portfolio alonewas some $3 billion, while more than$15 billion went into the essential health,education and community services portfolios.
The range of infrastructure needed to ensurea fair, sustainable and prosperous future hasexpanded beyond the accepted basics of agood resource base, efficient freight andlogistics networks, and secure energy andwater supplies. It encompasses workundertaken for social/cultural, environmentaland economic purposes and for sustainabledevelopment. We need highly skilled people,a culture of innovation, an attractive andsafe urban environment, and a wide choiceof lifestyle, recreation and investmentopportunities, as these are critical toVictoria’s global competitiveness and theattractiveness of metropolitan Melbourneand the surrounding region.
Melbourne 2030 provides a strategicframework to coordinate the location andmanagement of new infrastructure andservices, minimising cost and environmentalimpact and maximising economic and social benefit.
Work began on Melbourne 2030 inDecember 1999. It is the result of combinedinput from government, the private sector,and the people of metropolitan Melbourneand the other communities in the surround-ing region.
An important body of research lies behind it,and experts within and outside governmenthave contributed in-depth studies. The maintechnical reports have been published andmade available to the public in print (seeAppendixes). Summary reports are on theGovernment’s Metropolitan Strategy web siteat www.doi.vic.gov.au/melbourne2030
A number of options have been investigatedfor managing Melbourne’s growth, rangingfrom more concentrated development inestablished areas through to a substantiallyincreased role for the regional cities andtowns that surround metropolitanMelbourne.
COMMITMENTTO PREPARESTRATEGY
DATACOLLECTION
DECEMBER 1999 OCTOBER 2000
Mayorsand CEOs
forum
All EarsListening
public forums
RoundTable
Workshop
NOVEMBER–DECEMBER 2000 JANUARY 2001–ONGOING
INFOBULLETIN
#1
INFOBULLETIN
#2
CHALLENGEMELBOURNEIssues Paper
PUBLICCONSULTATION
1
Interviewswith business
and communityleaders
TECHNICALREPORTS
Web site
Figure 7.
The Strategy process
Thousands of interested Victorians haveexpressed their views and concerns throughpublic forums, small group workshops anddirect submissions. They includerepresentatives of local government and ofspecial interest groups, including youth,women, the elderly, and the developmentand investment communities. They have toldus about their hopes and fears for the future,their aspirations for themselves, theirbusinesses and their children, and whatmatters most to them about the places inwhich they live, work, invest and play.
Feedback was given on their views, throughprint and electronic media, as a vital part ofthe public consultation process. Importantmessages from the process have informedthe development of the principles thatunderpin Melbourne 2030.
A reference group has contributed to thedevelopment of important concepts andprovided a sounding board for many ideasabout content and the processes forcommunity consultation This group wasmade up of representatives from localgovernment, peak industry bodies andcommunity-based organisations, and peoplewith acknowledged expertise in a variety ofprofessional fields. A separate group of peerreviewers, expert in planning and relatedfields, has provided important comment onan early draft of this document.
Thousands of interested
Victorians have expressed
their views and concerns
How hasMelbourne2030developed?
The basis for Melbourne 2030
MELBOURNE AND THE REGION
MANAGING MELBOURNE’S GROWTH
Option 1. Compact–contained Option 2. Dispersed Option 3. Growth areas
