Community aspirations for Defence Site Maribyrnong

Protecting the Maribyrnong River, improving transport connections and planning for a variety of housing are key community priorities for the Defence Site Maribyrnong, a new report reveals.

The Defence Site Maribyrnong is a major urban renewal opportunity, consisting of 128 hectares of land 10km from Melbourne’s central business district. The site is being sold by the Department of Defence on behalf of the Commonwealth.

The Defence Site Maribyrnong Engagement Summary captures key ideas and concerns for the site raised through listening posts, community workshops and an online survey completed by 342 people.

The engagement was conducted by the Victorian Planning Authority (VPA) and Maribyrnong City Council between June and September 2018.

Participants were in strong agreement that the environmental values of the Maribyrnong River needed to be protected, with future development appropriately set back.

Equally, access and movement was also a major topic of discussion, with many noting the need to upgrade the area’s public transport, cycling paths and roads to accommodate further growth.

Participants called for the site to have a diversity of housing, including a strong component of affordable housing, as well as the conservation of the site’s significant Indigenous and post-contact heritage.

A theme universally raised amongst stakeholders was the importance of a transparent and open process around the site’s sale, remediation, planning and development.

The VPA and Maribyrnong City Council will use this valuable feedback to inform the next stage of planning for the site.

Victorian planning controls will apply to development of the site.

The VPA and Maribyrnong City Council are partnering with community members to ensure their aspirations for the site underpin future planning framework.

There will be further opportunities to get involved in this project in 2019.

To read the full report and learn more about the project, click here.