Darebin is currently involved in long range Structure Planning for its two largest traditional shopping areas: Northcote and Preston. The process is built on extensive consultations and community involvement, adjusted to suit each project.
Northcote faces many issues common to inner city areas – cafes are reviving run down areas but older shops are being lost; apartments are increasing the density but threatening light industry; entertainment venues are attracting visitors from afar but can create amenity problems.
Council is working with the Northcote Place Making community reference group on a Structure Plan for the area. Recently, after a three month consultation process, more than 200 locals and traders devoted four days to intensive workshops (known as a charette) to discuss the future of Northcote.
Residents articulated the area’s problems and possibilities, and discussed plans as the designers created them.
The Draft Structure Plan for Northcote is expected to be ready for public comment in early 2006.
In Preston, visitors can catch public transport right into Preston Central’s shops, cafes, community services and renowned market. Identified by the State Government as one of the 26 Principle Activity Centres in Melbourne, the central area of Preston is likely to change.
Council has employed a full time Preston Place Manager to build networks, sort through complex public land ownership arrangements and manage the Structure Planning process.
Over one year, while developing the Plan, Council distributed newsletters to 12,500 addresses, wrote to 125 community groups, staffed listening posts, erected displays and more. As a result when Council released the Draft Plan – which contained height and density proposals of a scale not considered here before – it received few objections.
Two capital works projects are now under way, and the final Preston Structure Plan is about to be released.
For more information, contact Paul Dickie on (03) 9230 4481.
