Community Infrastructure Planning

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: