Community Infrastructure
Community infrastructure – the buildings and spaces that provide services, activities and opportunities – can be provided by government, not-for-profit organisations and the private sector.
Planning for community infrastructure is an integral part of the land use planning process for areas experiencing growth. It ensures high-quality outcomes for growing communities and helps ensure that community facilities and services can meet the needs of existing and future communities. Community infrastructure planning often informs the development contributions made to support new housing.
Greenfield growth areas
In Greenfield growth areas, it is important to set aside sufficient land for community infrastructure such as:
- Open space reserves
- Government and non-government primary and secondary schools
- Community centres
Established areas
In established areas, community infrastructure planning must:
- Consider the extent and quality of legacy infrastructure and its capacity to help meet the needs existing and future residents.
- Consider the unique social characteristics of the area and its vision.
Regional areas
In regional areas, the relative isolation of a settlements and the long distances that people might otherwise have to travel to access essential services will be a key determinant of what facilities a centre might require.
Below are a list of community infrastructure PDF reports that the Victorian Planning Authority (VPA) uses to guide it’s planning for community infrastructure:
- Guide to Social Infrastructure Planning – October 2009 (PDF)
- Planning for Community Infrastructure in Growth Areas – April 2008 (PDF)
- Kindergarten Infrastructure Needs Assessment in Greenfield Growth Areas – April 2015 (PDF)
- A Strategic Framework for Creating Liveable New Communities – April 2008 (PDF)
- A Strategic Framework for Creating Liveable New Communities – The Framework at a Glance – March 2008 (PDF)
- Community Infrastructure – Liveability Planning Checklist – March 2008 (PDF)
- Creating Liveable New Communities – Promising Practice: A book of ‘good practice’ case studies – March 2008 (PDF)