A GLOBAL CITY

OF OPPORTUNITY SUMMARY
AND CHOICE
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Why Melbourne must evolve

Cities are defined by people. Vibrant cities are those that evolve and endure—evolve by keeping up with
the changing and growing needs of the people they serve, and endure by
They are defined by the ways retaining the characteristics that attracted people in the first place.
in which we live and work, move Founded on land that Aboriginal people have lived on for at least
40,000 years, Melbourne is a vibrant city that has evolved and endured
from place to place, and interact for more than 180 years. What began as a settlement on the muddy
with each other. That is why banks of the Yarra has gone through generations of change—including
the wild years of the Gold Rush, the wealth of Marvellous Melbourne, the
—as we change—our cities devastation of the 1890s depression, the shocks of two World Wars and
need to adapt. the Great Depression, the post-War migrant boom and the awakening of
the 1956 Olympics, and, now, another boom in investment and population
driven by the opportunities of the Asian Century.
Along the way, Melbourne developed a unique character, winning renown
as a multicultural and tolerant, liveable and affordable, sporting and
creative city.
Those characteristics made Melbourne one of the marvels of the 19th
century and a major financial services hub in the late 20th and early 21st
centuries. In the decades ahead, Melbourne must evolve again in order to
endure—retaining its marvellous liveability and culture while continuing
to be a global city of the 21st century.

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What we are planning for between now and 2050

Population Jobs Housing Transport Environment Community

and liveability

Melbourne’s The economy The city will The city’s The city will As it grows,
population will need to need to build transport have to cope Melbourne
is projected adapt and another network will with more needs to protect
to grow from grow, creating 1.6 million need to cater extreme heat its liveability
4.5 million to another homes in places for around and longer and sense of
almost 8 million 1.5 million jobs where people 10 million more droughts, as well community
— with Victoria’s for a changing want to live trips a day — as increased
total population workforce an increase of risks of extreme
set to top more than 80% bushfires,
10 million storms
by 2051 and floods

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Every Victorian has a role to play

It is up to this generation to tip the balance

towards a future where Victoria is socially and
economically strong, environmentally resilient,
and engaged with the opportunities of a rapidly
changing world.

How we respond to the challenges we face will define the prosperity,

sustainability and liveability of our city and state for generations to come.
Melbourne has no time to waste. We need to plan and invest wisely to:
cater to the needs of a more diverse and ageing population; break the
link between congestion and growth; address housing affordability;
mitigate and adapt to climate change; and ensure social and economic
opportunities are accessible to all.
That is why Plan Melbourne matters.
Plan Melbourne is transformational. It is a long‑term plan designed to
respond to the statewide, regional and local challenges and opportunities
Victoria faces between now and 2050. It revises the 2014 version of Plan
Melbourne to reflect current policies and priorities—creating continuity,
clarity and certainty for communities, businesses and governments.
It is a blueprint for a generation of action. With Melbourne’s population
forecast to reach 8 million by 2050, we have 8 million reasons to get
Plan Melbourne right.

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How we will plan for Melbourne

To remain the world’s most liveable city, Melbourne must

address challenges and create opportunities

Managing population growth Improving transport

There will be more clarity about where growth will We will continue to invest in our transport
go. Population and housing growth will be kept network — building the Metro Tunnel and major
within the existing urban growth boundary by road projects across the city and suburbs.
the careful development of growth areas and the Government will respond to Infrastructure
selective redevelopment of underutilised areas Victoria’s independent assessment of
within existing communities. transport priorities by mid-2017.

Growing the economy Responding to climate change

There will be more jobs close to where people live; Victoria will reduce its greenhouse gas emissions
which is more important than ever in a changing to net zero by 2050. The city and state will also
economy. Opportunities for new industries will be grow a cleaner economy while preparing for
created through the redevelopment of strategic higher temperatures and more frequent extreme
sites close to central Melbourne, through the weather events.
creation of national employment and innovation
clusters, and through the strengthening of Connecting communities
existing precincts for sectors such as health, Melbourne will be a city of 20-minute
education, large manufacturing and freight neighbourhoods. Residents will still commute
and logistics. out of their area for work, but most of their daily
needs will be a short walk, bike ride or public
Creating affordable and accessible housing transport trip away.
There will be more affordability and choice, as
more of the housing we need is delivered in the
right places.
How Plan Melbourne works

Plan Melbourne is a long‑term vision with a tangible implementation plan

It is a 35-year blueprint to ensure Melbourne grows more sustainable, productive and liveable as its
population approaches 8 million.
The implementation plan is a separate five-year plan of actions that need to be taken to make the
ambitions of the Plan a reality.
The five-year Implementation Plan will be regularly updated to keep up with the needs of Melbourne
as it grows. It will also be refreshed every five years.
The 35-year Plan Melbourne is a formal planning document to guide planners, councils, developers
and the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).

To achieve this, Plan Melbourne is structured around:

9 principles To guide policies and actions

7 outcomes To state the ambitions of the plan

32 directions To outline how the outcomes will be achieved

90 policies To detail how directions will be turned into actions

How we will be defined

Vision: A global city of opportunity and choice

PRINCIPLES

Principle 1 Principle 4 Principle 7

A distinctive Melbourne Environmental resilience and Strong and healthy

sustainability communities

Principle 2 Principle 5 Principle 8

A globally connected Living locally — Infrastructure investment that

and competitive city 20-minute neighbourhoods supports balanced city growth

Principle 3 Principle 6 Principle 9

A city of centres linked to Social and economic Leadership and

regional Victoria participation partnership

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Outcomes

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OUTCOME

1 Melbourne is a productive city that attracts investment,

supports innovation and creates jobs

Directions Policies
In the decades ahead, globalisation, the
economic rise of Asia, digital disruption and the Create a city structure Support the central city to become Australia’s largest
that strengthens commercial and residential centre by 2050
ageing population will continue to drive rapid Melbourne’s
changes in Australia and Victoria. Plan for the redevelopment of major urban renewal precincts in
competitiveness for jobs
and around the central city to deliver high-quality, distinct and
and investment
diverse neighbourhoods offering a mix of uses
Melbourne and Victoria need to adapt to handle this social and
economic transition. Facilitate the development of national employment and
innovation clusters
The central city will continue to be Melbourne’s largest
concentration of employment. National employment and Support the significant employment and servicing role of health
innovation clusters in the suburbs will be a focus for knowledge- and education precincts across Melbourne
based and high-productivity jobs. Together with key industrial Support major transport gateways as important locations for
precincts, transport gateways, health and education precincts employment and economic activity
and metropolitan activity centres, these clusters will attract
Plan for industrial land in the right locations to support
investment and stimulate employment. employment and investment opportunities
Targeting development and infrastructure investment in these
Plan for adequate commercial land across Melbourne
key employment areas will maximise the city’s productivity—
positioning Melbourne as Australia’s pre-eminent knowledge Improve access to Support the development of a network of activity centres, linked
economy, services sector and freight hub. jobs across Melbourne by transport
and closer to where
Facilitate investment in Melbourne’s outer areas to increase
people live
local access to employment

Support the provision of telecommunications infrastructure

Create development Plan for and facilitate the development of urban renewal
opportunities at urban precincts
renewal precincts
Plan for new development and investment opportunities on the
across Melbourne
existing and planned transport network

Support the productive Protect agricultural land and support agricultural production
use of land and
resources in Melbourne’s Identify and protect extractive resources (such as stone and
sand) important for Melbourne’s future needs
non-urban areas

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OUTCOME

2 Melbourne provides housing choice

in locations close to jobs and services

New housing needs to be well Directions Policies

planned and affordable. It needs Manage the supply Maintain a permanent urban growth boundary around Melbourne to create a more
of new housing in consolidated, sustainable city
to be in the right places, close to
the right locations
jobs and services. Facilitate an increased percentage of new housing in established areas to create a
to meet population
city of 20-minute neighbourhoods close to existing services, jobs and public transport
growth and create
There will be more housing choices for a sustainable city Plan for and define expected housing needs across Melbourne’s regions
people in their local areas so they can
downsize or upsize without having to leave Provide certainty about the scale of growth in the suburbs
behind neighbourhoods and community. Deliver more housing Facilitate well-designed, high-density residential developments that support a
closer to jobs and vibrant public realm in Melbourne’s central city
That means finding opportunities for new
public transport
housing: in the central city, in targeted areas Direct new housing and mixed-use development to urban renewal precincts and sites
within suburbs, and within growth areas on across Melbourne
the city’s fringe.
Support new housing in activity centres and other places that offer good access to
That also means increasing the supply of jobs, services and public transport
social and affordable housing—so that no Provide support and guidance for greyfield areas to deliver more housing choice
one is left behind. and diversity
Our suburbs will also become more liveable. Require development in growth areas to be sequenced and staged to better link
Within neighbourhoods, people will be able infrastructure delivery to land release
to walk, cycle or take a short public transport
Increase the supply of Utilise government land to deliver additional social housing
trip for most of their daily needs—making
social and affordable
the city easier to live in, easier to get around housing Streamline decision-making processes for social housing proposals
and more sustainable.
Strengthen the role of planning in facilitating and delivering the supply of social
and affordable housing

Create ways to capture and share value uplift from rezonings

Facilitate decision- Support streamlined approval processes in defined locations

making processes for
housing in the right Facilitate the remediation of contaminated land, particularly on sites in developed
areas of Melbourne with potential for residential development
locations

Provide greater choice Facilitate housing that offers choice and meets changing household needs
and diversity of housing
Provide a range of housing types in growth areas
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OUTCOME

3 Melbourne has an integrated transport system that

connects people to jobs and services and goods to market

Melbourne needs an integrated 21st-century transport Directions Policies

system to connect people to jobs and services. Creating an Transform Melbourne’s Create a metro-style rail system with ‘turn up and
transport system go’ frequency and reliability
integrated transport system will require:
to support a
Provide high-quality public transport access to
• the completion of the Metro • ensuring Melbourne’s air transport productive city
job‑rich areas
Tunnel project remains efficient for passengers
Improve arterial road connections across
• significant improvements to and freight, with the potential
Melbourne for all road users
arterial road connections to establish another airport in
across Melbourne, and Melbourne’s south-east Provide guidance and certainty for land use and
transport development through the Principal Public
improved efficiency of the • enhancing the efficiency of Transport Network and the Principal Freight Network
motorway network Melbourne’s freight network by
upgrading road and rail freight Improve the efficiency of the motorway network
• the removal of level crossings
across Melbourne’s suburbs infrastructure, creating new Support cycling for commuting
intermodal freight terminals in
• better transport infrastructure Improve transport Improve roads in growth areas and outer suburbs
Melbourne’s north and west, and
and services in newer suburbs— in Melbourne’s outer
increasing the volume of interstate Improve outer-suburban public transport
including new bus services for suburbs
freight transported by rail
outer suburbs and, where there is
• enhancing Melbourne’s freight Improve local Create pedestrian-friendly neighbourhoods
sufficient demand, expansions to travel options to
the rail network network through the Port Create a network of cycling links for local trips
support 20-minute
Capacity project, the Western neighbourhoods
• significant investments in new Improve local transport choices
Distributor project and the
suburbs to create pedestrian- and
possible establishment of a Locate schools and other regional facilities near
cyclist-friendly neighbourhoods
second container port. existing public transport and provide safe walking
and cycling routes and drop-off zones

Improve freight Support sufficient gateway capacity with efficient

efficiency and increase landside access
capacity of gateways
Increase the volume of freight carried on rail
while protecting urban
amenity Avoid negative impacts of freight movements on
urban amenity

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OUTCOME

4 Melbourne is a distinctive and liveable city

with quality design and amenity

Melbourne is renowned for its Directions Policies

buildings, parks, creative culture Create more great public Support Melbourne’s distinctiveness
places across Melbourne
and liveability. Integrate place-making practices into road-space management

As Melbourne’s population grows, we need Strengthen Melbourne’s network of boulevards

to ensure the city and suburbs also grow Protect and enhance the metropolitan water’s edge parklands
more liveable.
Build on Melbourne’s Strengthen Melbourne’s civic legacy of great places
That means we must promote quality design cultural leadership and
Support the growth and development of Melbourne’s cultural precincts and
that focuses on people, environment and cultural sporting legacy
creative industries
identity—reflecting the past, present and future
of Melbourne and Victoria. Plan and facilitate private-sector tourism investment opportunities

Heritage will continue to be one of our greatest Achieve and promote Promote urban design excellence in every aspect of the built environment
strengths. In particular Aboriginal cultural design excellence
heritage must be recognised and protected Respect Melbourne’s Recognise the value of heritage when managing growth and change
as a part of the contemporary and social life heritage as we build for
Respect and protect Melbourne’s Aboriginal cultural heritage
of Melbourne. the future
Stimulate economic growth through heritage conservation
The city needs to enhance its reputation as a
great place to live and work—and use liveability Protect Melbourne’s heritage through telling its stories
as a magnet to attract new people, new ideas
Plan for Melbourne’s Strengthen protection and management of green wedge land
and new opportunities. green wedges and
Protect and enhance valued attributes of distinctive areas and landscapes
peri‑urban areas
Strengthen community Create diverse opportunities for communities to participate in planning
participation in the
planning of our city

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OUTCOME

5 Melbourne is a city of inclusive,

vibrant and healthy neighbourhoods

The concept of the 20-minute neighbourhood is simple. Directions Policies

It’s all about giving Melburnians the ability to live locally— Create a city Create mixed-use neighbourhoods at varying
of 20-minute densities
meeting most of their everyday needs within a 20‑minute
neighbourhoods
walk, cycle or local public transport trip of home. Support a network of vibrant neighbourhood
activity centres
Many of us will still need to travel outside our local area to go to work, but Create neighbourhoods Improve neighbourhoods to enable walking and
everyday needs such as schools, shops, meeting places, open spaces, that support safe cycling as a part of daily life
cafés, doctors, childcare and access to public transport will be only 20 communities and healthy
minutes away. lifestyles

Many of Melbourne’s established suburbs already have the ingredients for Deliver social Facilitate a whole-of-government approach to the
a 20-minute neighbourhood. Plan Melbourne aims to make the 20-minute infrastructure to delivery of social infrastructure
neighbourhood a reality for every suburb and every Melburnian. support strong
Create health and education precincts to support
communities
Access to local services—including early years centres, primary and neighbourhoods
secondary schools, parks and sporting fields, and medical centres—is Support not-for-profit community services to build
needed at the early stage of a neighbourhood’s development. Connecting social capital and stronger communities
people to these services and facilities via frequent public transport
Provide and protect land for cemeteries and
services and safe and convenient pedestrian and cycle routes (which avoid crematoria
arterial roads wherever possible) will be integral to the creation of a city of
20-minute neighbourhoods. Deliver local parks and Develop a network of accessible, high-quality, local
green neighbourhoods open spaces
Local communities will also be encouraged and supported to become in collaboration with
actively involved in the delivery of local parks and greening of their Support community gardens and productive
communities
streetscapes
neighbourhoods. The city needs to make better use of existing public
land—including schools, underutilised road space and easements. in collaboration with

communities Develop a network of accessible high-quality, local

open spaces

Support community gardens and productive

streetscapes

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OUTCOME

6 Melbourne is a sustainable and resilient city

The Melbourne of 2050 will need to be a low-carbon city Directions Policies

designed to cope with the effects of climate change. Transition to a low- Improve energy, water and waste performance
carbon city to enable of buildings through environmentally sustainable
To achieve those aims Victoria will reduce greenhouse gas emissions to Victoria to achieve development and energy efficiency upgrades
net zero emissions by 2050 while creating new jobs, driving innovation its target of net zero
Facilitate the uptake of renewable energy
within new and traditional industries and reducing household energy greenhouse gas
technologies
emissions by 2050
bills. In addition, areas at risk from natural hazards will be identified and
planned for. Reduce the likelihood Mitigate exposure to natural hazards and adapt to
and consequences of the impacts of climate change
Urban areas will be designed to encourage more active modes of transport
natural hazard events
and reduce car dependency. Buildings will be designed to improve energy Require climate change risks to be considered in
and adapt to climate
efficiency, collect and re-use water and to generate energy from local infrastructure planning
change
renewable sources and distributed energy technologies.
Integrate urban Reduce pressure on water supplies by making the
The city will generate less waste, with resource recovery technologies development and water best use of all water sources
extracting economic value from recycling of waste streams. cycle management to
Improve alignment between urban water
support a resilient and
Melbourne will be greener, cooler and more liveable. The community’s management and planning by adopting an
liveable city
access to open space and nature will be enhanced and biodiversity and integrated water management approach
ecological processes will be safeguarded for future generations. Protect water, drainage and sewerage assets
An integrated approach to managing the urban water cycle will make
Make Melbourne cooler Support a cooler Melbourne by greening urban
the best use of all water sources and transform Melbourne into a water- and greener areas, buildings, transport corridors and open
sensitive city—protecting the health of the city’s waterways and bays, spaces to create an urban forest
reducing the risk of flooding and keeping parks, gardens and street
Strengthen the integrated metropolitan open
trees thriving.
space network
Continued overleaf

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OUTCOME

6 Continued

Directions Policies

Protect and restore Create a network of green spaces that support

natural habitats biodiversity conservation and opportunities to
connect with nature
Protect and enhance the health of urban waterways

Protect the coastlines and waters of Port Phillip Bay

and Western Port

Improve air quality and Reduce air pollution emissions and minimise
reduce the impact of exposure to air pollution and excessive noise
excessive noise

Reduce waste and Improve the economic recovery of waste and

improve waste reduce reliance on landfill
management and
Improve waste and resource recovery systems to
resource recovery
meet the logistical challenges of medium- and
higher-density developments

Protect waste management and resource recovery

facilities from urban encroachment and assess
opportunities for new waste facilities

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OUTCOME

7 Regional Victoria is productive, sustainable

and supports jobs and economic growth

Continuing to invest in regional Victoria will support Directions Policies

housing and economic growth, enhance social Invest in regional Victoria Stimulate employment and growth in regional cities
to support housing and
and economic participation and grow strong, Support planning for growing towns in peri-urban
economic growth
healthy communities. areas

Improve connections Improve transport and digital connectivity for

Growing regional cities means stronger local labour markets that can between cities and regional Victoria
sustain local employment as well as regional scale services (such as regions
hospitals and universities). Strengthen transport links on national networks for
the movement of commodities
Creating high-quality freight and passenger transport connections to
regional cities and towns will also facilitate the growth and competitiveness
of the regions.
The government will continue to make improvements to infrastructure
and services to stimulate employment and growth in the state’s 10 largest
regional cities.
Development in regional Victoria will need to be in keeping with the
character, attractiveness and amenity of individual cities and towns. It
will also need to be balanced with protecting productive land, economic
resources and biodiversity assets that are critical to the state’s economic
and environmental sustainability.

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What Plan Melbourne will mean for you

You will still be living in one of the world’s You will be able to get around the city and
most liveable cities — because the suburbs more easily — because a more
environment has been protected and integrated and efficient road and public
new housing built in places with the right transport network has broken the link
services and infrastructure between growth and congestion

You will be able to work or study closer You will be living in a city of 20-minute
to where you live — because job clusters neighbourhoods — because you can walk,
in the suburbs have grown and been cycle or take a short public transport trip
linked by better transport infrastructure to access most of your everyday needs
and services
You will be living in a greener, more
You will have a real choice about how and sustainable city — because Melbourne
where you live — because a wide range has become a low-carbon city, and parks
of affordable and accessible housing is and green wedges have been protected
available for rent and sale and improved

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To make this vision a reality, Melbourne
has time to plan but no time to waste
For further information please visit Accessibility
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