Background

The Melville City Centre Vision Plan and Centre Plan has been the product of consultations and studies initially commenced in 2002 through a Design by Enquiry workshop, public forum and independent studies on social impact, traffic and transportation and commercial centre analysis.

At that time, a plan was released called City Vision 2020 that created a vision for the growth and development of the city centre and surrounds focused around Garden City Shopping Centre. The Council did not adopt the plan.

A changing urban planning environment saw the need to review the plan to create a more integrated centre and an opportunity for the development of a Main Street through the centre rather than adjacent to it (as in the City Vision 2020 plan). The Main Street not only provides a direct connection between Davy Street and Almondbury Road, but more importantly provides for the development of external entertainment, leisure and commercial uses outside of the main shopping centre and connects adjacent civic facilities provided by the City of Melville library, hall, administration centre and future development of an improved city square.

The revised vision plan shows a number of other significant changes including:

• Commercial development fronting Marmion Street;

• Improved connectivity through the centre;

• Reduction in the size of the bus station;

• Improved flexibility to accommodate mixed uses in the city centre;

• Provision of improved public transport around the centre;

• Relocation of car parking areas (i.e. no loss of bays but rather a relocation of car parking areas improving pedestrian accessibility and visual appearance of the centre).

The Vision Plan, Centre Plan documents and revised Commercial Centres Strategy provides more detailed information of the need to promote growth, diversity and opportunity in the Melville City Centre, how it is best managed and considers the local and regional implications of development etc.