Community to Have Say on Local Planning Strategy at Neighbourhood Workshops

The City has developed a draft Local Planning Strategy – a long-term urban planning vision for the municipality – that looks at issues such as housing opportunities and densities, business/commercial growth, transport, community connectedness and environmental, heritage and cultural preservation and enhancement.

The draft Local Planning Strategy will be released for public comment from 27 August to 31 October 2008 and, as part of the process, the City is hosting five community workshops to inform and get feedback from residents. The first workshop for the North East Neighbourhood of the City will be held on Wednesday, 27 August at Tompkins on Swan Function Centre, Alfred Cove.

Mayor Russell Aubrey said the draft strategy had been developed using the information gathered from the comprehensive and award-winning Melville Visions community consultation project where residents were given a number of opportunities to voice their opinions and aspirations to contribute to and influence the future directions of the City of Melville. “Once adopted, the strategy will lead to a review of the Town Planning Scheme where the measures will be put in place to achieve the aims of the strategy,” he said.

Mayor Aubrey said there were a range of issues that would affect the way in which the City of Melville developed in an urban planning context, including increasing housing densities and expansion of commercial centres. “The strategy seeks to show how we can address these matters through the reviewed planning scheme,” he said.

Urban Planning Director Craig McClure said the strategy looked at social, economic and environmental factors and involved an assessment of all the City’s current strategies and action plans. “It also looks at what is going on in the surrounding region and complements the State Government’s Network City framework and other State Government policies,” he said.

A workshop will be held in each of the four neighbourhoods of the City as identified in the City’s long-term Community Plan, and a fifth workshop will be held at the Melville Civic Centre.

Mayor Aubrey said there would be two components to the workshops. “The first part will tie in with the Community Plan and be an interactive exercise where people identify a favourite landmark and a place that needs improvement to start thinking about how they interact with the built environment,” he said. “The second will be to inform the community about the Local Planning Strategy and allow residents to comment.”

The scheduled dates and locations of the workshops are:

•     27 August – Tompkins on Swan Function Centre (North East neighbourhood)

•     3 September – Willagee Community Centre (South West)

•     10 September – Point Walter Golf Club (North West)

•     17 September – City of Melville Civic Centre (Conference Room)

•     22 September – Melville Glades Golf Club (South East)

Each workshop will commence at 6.30pm for a 7.00pm start, finishing at 9.00pm. Light supper will be provided. To reserve your place at one of the workshops or for more information, phone 1300 MELVILLE. 

Residents will also be able to view copies of the Local Planning Strategy at City of Melville libraries, community centres, the Melville Civic Centre and on the City’s website at www.melvillecity.com.au.