$75 Million To Plan An Even More Liveable Victoria

Projects to rejuvenate major suburban centres and meet the challenges of population growth are the focus of a $75 million plan to keep Victoria a great place to live, work and raise a family.

Planning Minister Justin Madden said the 2007-08 State Budget delivered on the Bracks Government’s commitment to meet the challenge of planning for a growing population.

“Since 1999, the Government has legislated to protect Melbourne’s precious Green Wedges, direct housing to where new communities can access schools, shops and transport, and streamlined planning processes,” he said.

“We made a commitment to help councils implement the Melbourne 2030 blueprint to manage growth over the next 30 years.

“We also promised to give local government the tools and expertise needed to update and strengthen local planning schemes so that communities, developers and councils have greater certainty about what is allowed.

“Today we are delivering on those promises, with funding to facilitate investment, boost local economies, create jobs and make Victoria an even more attractive place to raise a family.”

Mr Madden said $63 million of major new funding under the Transit Cities program would help kick-start redevelopment in Footscray, Ringwood and Geelong, with vital infrastructure and urban design work.

“A further $3 million over the next two years will give councils across Melbourne access to expert advice on developing and implementing structure plans for key activity centres,” he said.

“We’re also providing $500,000 for new technology and a program to help Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Wodonga and the Latrobe Valley plan for future housing and employment areas by accelerating strategic planning and rezoning where necessary.”

Planning initiatives in the 2007-08 State Budget include:

• $52 million over four years to revitalise central Footscray, including a modern pedestrian bridge at the station, an upgrade of main streets in the town centre, facilitating development of strategic sites around the station, and a new ‘one-stop planning shop’ for marketing central Footscray;
• $5.8 million over two years to acquire land in the Geelong station precinct for a pedestrian link to the TAC building and the waterfront, as well as detailed design and scoping works to integrate the station and cultural precincts;
• $5.4 million for detailed design work in Ringwood to provide a blueprint for integrating the station precinct with Eastland and the proposed town square across Maroondah Highway;
• $7 million over two years towards Stage 1 of a $400 million redevelopment of Greensborough which includes expanding the Plaza, a new modern aquatic centre and a new town centre and square with civic, commercial and community facilities;
• $500,000 to help rural councils carry out important strategic planning work, including implementing new rural zones to help balance farmers’ rights to farm with treechangers’ desire for a quiet life and the need to protect the natural environment; and
• $1 million over two years to conduct an audit of Melbourne 2030, the 30-year plan for a prosperous, vibrant and sustainable city.

“We’re helping communities plan for future growth and change, to make Victoria a better place to live, work and raise a family,” Mr Madden said.