1967 | Town and Country Planning Board |
3 possibilities for future development of Melbourne:
- balanced periphery growth
- greenbelt with large scale satellites beyond (metro cities)
- linear growth by corridors of metropolitan towns
|
1968 | MMBW |
Controlled outward growth
Satellite city development
Corridor-satellite approach
|
1970 | Bolte Government |
“growth corridors ”with green wedges. Professor Ledgar said of this choice
the developer tail was wagging the planning dog
Corridors were:
Werribee South (Werribee)
Derrimut (Melton)
Calder (Sunbury)
Calder (Merri)
Woodstock (Plenty)
Kinglake-Yarra (Lilydale)
Dandenongs (Berwick)
Cranbourne (Berwick)
Springvale (Frankston)
This plan did not proceed.
|
1979 | MMBW |
Resumed argument in favor of consolidation
|
1980 | MMBW |
Proposed 20 Activity Centres or District Centres
|
1982 | Cain Government |
The Cain Government prided itself on being pro-development:
Urban consolidation
Corridor Growth
District Centres
Strong CBD.
|
1984 | Cain Government |
14 Activity Centres Proposed
|
1985 | Cain Government |
Dual occupancy provisions
|
1987 | Cain Government |
Urban consolidation first of 9 major themes
|
1990 | Kirner Government |
Details of growth proposal for Werribee and South-Eastern corridors.
|
1992 | Kirner Government |
Themes in Melbourne's drive towards consolidation of metropolitan area:
Efficient use of land and infrastructure
Liveability of the city.
|
1993 | Kennett Government |
Vic Code 2:
Urban Consolidation…contain the sprawl
Development within 7 kms of the CBD to be higher, denser,
boundary to boundary
The code made it easier to build flats in any residential area
|
1994 | Kennett Government |
Amalgamation of Councils
|
1995 | Kennett Government |
Good Design Guide (GDG) fostered medium density. Councils subsequently ordered to designate
areas where medium density housing could take place without difficulties presented by objectors.
Important to build up suburban activity centres at key locations offering range of local
services, contributing to sense of place and support multiple activities
including shopping, entertainment and leisure.
Major efficiencies to be gained from promoting activity centres with good road and rail
services.
|
1996 | Kennett Government |
Proposed “Urban villages”—use vacant industrial sites, old school sites and former council depots for intensive
development and public transport to be favored over car usage.
8 areas listed: East Richmond, Prahran, North Geelong, Preston, East Brunswick, Sandringham, Blackburn and Bayswater.
The policy died. “The government does not fund new public infrastructure either directly
or through local councils, or otherwise show any interest in turning their concept into reality.
Its approach is twofold…on paper say all the right things…and on the ground, let it rip.” (p. 132)
“There still seems to be no serious attempt to develop fully planned and serviced
nodes of housing and supporting facilities in outer areas. Current planning policies continue
to assume that higher densities could occur with 7 kilometres of the CBD and the highest of
all in the CBD itself…” (p. 134)
“…filling in round the metropolis probably overloaded more roads than it economised
sewers.” (p. 145)
|
|
2001 | Bracks Government |
Introduction of ResCode to replace the largely discredited Good Design Guide.
It was said of GDG that it was a slightly massaged VicCode 2 and ResCode is a slightly massaged
GDG.
What the newly elected Labor Government promised—i.e. a prescriptive planning code—has
never eventuated. Res Code has some standards and suggestions for developments up to,
and including, 3 storeys.
|
2002 | Bracks Government |
Melbourne 2030: the new (old?) strategic Plan for Melbourne. Instead of the modest
number of activity centres previously proposed, M2030 nominates a massive 26 Principal Activity
Centres, 85 Major Activity Centres, 10 Special Activity Centres and some
900 Neighborhood Activity Centres (to be nominated by councils).
High density development is to be permitted within 400m of each of these centres.
|
2005 | Bracks Government |
Published (almost in secret): the Government's Guidelines for Higher Density Development.
These are guidelines for 4 storey plus developments.
This is a cliché-ridden statement that sets no standards. It’s a ‘let it rip’ document for developers.
|
|
Source for information to 1996:
Lewis, Miles Suburban Backlash. The Battle for the World's Most Liveable City
Bloomings Books, Melbourne (1999).
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