Greenfields

Since 2006, the Victorian Planning Authority (VPA) has been planning new suburbs across greater Melbourne. When designing a suburb, our philosophy is that the area must have great amenity, including ample open space, community facilities and bustling neighbourhoods.

To do this, we ensure that each community has its own local town centre to cater for everyday shopping and grocery needs, local services and employment as well as an integrated network of parks linked by pedestrian and cycle paths.

In addition, our plans for new walkable suburbs include land that is reserved for future schools, community centres, sports precincts and bus services, so future residents live in lively suburbs with world-class services and infrastructure.

Finally, we make a concerted effort to weave in key environmental features into development plans, incorporating each area’s unique topography into its design. We protect an area’s cultural heritage by preserving places of spiritual significance to the local traditional owners and retaining and reusing key post-contact buildings and landmarks.

We have completed 70 Precinct Structure Plans (PSPs) for new communities and a couple of industrial areas in the municipalities of Cardinia, Casey, Hume, Melton, Mitchell, Whittlesea, Wyndham and Latrobe City.

The VPA will continue to plan Melbourne’s new greenfields suburbs into the future consistent with Plan Melbourne 2017 – 2050, to ensure land within the urban growth boundary offers a diverse range of efficient and affordable housing options. Under the Streamlining for Growth program the VPA now facilitates assistance with the subdivision approvals process and provides support in greenfield growth areas to ensure and gets to market in a timely manner.

Importantly, the VPA is also busy planning for growth in strategic locations in our established suburbs and growing regional areas to sensitively support growth near jobs and infrastructure.