CEO Update – 2 September 2016

Dear Colleague,

Since becoming the VPA a fortnight ago we have had a few major developments I wanted to update you on.

Consultation for the Draft Arden Vision & Framework is now live

We were delighted that yesterday our Minister, Richard Wynne, Minister Allan and the Lord Mayor launched the Draft Arden Vision & Framework for consultation.

Minister Allan has coordinating responsibility for the precinct in her role as the Minister for Major Projects, and together with Minister Wynne they will ensure there is a sharp government focus on the planning and development of the precinct, hand-in-hand with the City of Melbourne.

Arden will be a classic 21^st-century urban development, based around progressive urban design, a metro station and a beautiful civic heart and public realm. It will be a new focal point for business, innovation and living in Melbourne. The Government owns much of the land in Arden, so it has a unique opportunity to create something special, which takes advantage of the precinct’s amazing surrounds and proximity to the CBD, Parkville and the west.

This is a huge milestone for this project, coming after many months of the VPA working closely with the City of Melbourne and several government departments and agencies.

The VPA is seeking feedback on key ideas to shape the future of Arden. Over the next seven weeks it will be hosting several community engagement activities, including a community forum, business forum and an online survey.

Arden Station, being built as part of the Metro Tunnel, is due to open by 2026, making this the ideal location to expand Melbourne’s bustling city centre and create a new central city destination.

Located on 56 hectares of land between Macaulay Road, Dryburgh Street and the Upfield Rail Corridor, in North Melbourne, Arden will complement the neighbouring residential precinct of Macaulay, being planned by the City of Melbourne.

Arden will be characterised by a lively public realm, diverse housing, great cycle paths and civic spaces. The area will be developed gradually, over the next 30 years.

By 2051, it is envisioned that Arden will:

• Be a base for 34,000 jobs and 15,000 residents
• Have a new train station one stop from the CBD, Parkville and Melbourne’s flourishing west
• Be a new employment hub that significantly enhances Melbourne’s competitive advantage
• Have great new open spaces and an inviting civic heart

The Arden community engagement program will be managed by the VPA in collaboration with the City of Melbourne and State Government partners.

To see the full Draft Arden Vision & Framework, the accompanying video, brochure, FAQs and joint Ministers’ media release, please visit https://shapevictoria.vic.gov.au

New PSPs approved in Hume and Casey

Last week Minister Wynne announced the approval of two new plans – one for a future suburb in Casey and the other for a new employment precinct in Melbourne’s growing north.

The latter will be a 488-hectare precinct known as the Craigieburn North Employment Area, which will ultimately be the base for 7930 jobs – providing great employment opportunities to residents living in Melbourne’s booming northern corridor. This includes people living in the emerging community of Kalkallo and the planned future community of Donnybrook.

With Melbourne’s population growing at a rapid pace, it is vital that land is set aside for employment and industry uses, so we are particularly pleased this plan is now complete.

Additionally, residents in Melbourne’s south-east will have more options about where they live, work and socialise thanks to an expanded town centre planned for Cranbourne North. Building on the established Casey Central Shopping Centre, Casey Central Town Centre will be compact urban centre featuring offices, restaurants and civic services within a walkable street network at the heart of Cranbourne North.

Once fully developed, this activity centre will provide more than 4100 jobs through multi-storey offices and commercial spaces.

Birthday

The approval of these PSPs brings our program to 58 new suburbs and industrial areas approved over the past decade.

Now that the VPA has been established, it is a good time to recognise the 10^th anniversary of the GAA. The early pioneers of the GAA were Minister Rob Hulls and Chairman Chris Banks, as well as Carol Schwartz, Rob Spence, Felix Blatt, Frank King and Mike Scrafton.

Their early work helped us become what we are today and played a vital role in contributing to Melbourne’s housing affordability, quality infrastructure and well-designed precincts.

VPA to lead master planning for Caloola site (Sunbury)

Our Minister has asked us to undertake a strategic master planning exercise, as the Planning Authority, for a former Sunbury Victoria University site, called Caloola. This was once was the site of a former asylum. Caloola is a strategic redevelopment site, and the VPA will have an increasing focus on such sites in the future.

The current site is largely unused and includes significant heritage buildings that require attention. The Minister has said there is an opportunity for the Government to explore some better outcomes for the site that will benefit Sunbury’s growing population.

Furthermore, the VPA is undertaking work on two Precinct Structure Plans for further development in the area south of the current Sunbury township. Our job will be to put together a feasible strategic master plan that takes into consideration these great buildings and future uses, with development to underpin this site.

We will be working closely with Victoria University, Heritage Victoria, the City of Hume and the local community and their representatives to devise a master plan for the area.

Finally

Please call our office or me if you have any questions or suggestions on these or any other items, or reply accordingly if you no longer wish to receive these emails.

Regards,

Peter