The Growth Areas Authority (GAA) works with seven growth area councils to plan for new communities in Melbourne's designated growth corridors over the next 30 years. This will involve developing 350,000+ households, accommodating 1,000,000 people, and establishing employment, education, community, and open space facilities. The GAA uses long-term growth corridor plans, precinct structure planning, and infrastructure coordination to help create resilient, well-serviced, and connected communities. An example is provided of the GAA's work with Latrobe City Council to plan for growth in peri-urban centers through a collaborative process that identifies infrastructure needs.

1. Planning for Resilient,
well Serviced and
Connected
Communities
Tim Peggie
Director, Structure Planning
Growth Areas Authority
October 2013

2. Overview
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The Growth Areas Authority – Role and Outputs
Growth of Peri-Urban Centres
Creating Resilient, well Serviced and Connected
Communities
Example

3. The Growth Areas Authority
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Established in recognition of
the need for better land use
and infrastructure planning
The GAA works with seven
growth area councils;
Mitchell, Hume, Whittlesea,
Cardinia, Casey, Melton and
Wyndham
We also work collaboratively
with government
departments, agencies and
landowners
“Partners in creating new
communities”
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4. Melbourne’s Designated Growth Corridors

5. Magnitude of the task:
Development over ~30 years:
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350 000+ households
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~1 000 000 people
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12 600 Ha of industrial land
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15 major & 85 local town centres
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150+ Government & Non-Government schools
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100 new community facilities
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1 500+ Ha of active open space
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5 200 Ha of conservation areas
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350 000+ jobs

6. How we plan for new communities
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Long term planning through development
of Growth Corridor Plans
Precinct Structure Planning
Monitor land supply and affordability
Develop an approach to development
sequencing and infrastructure coordination
Assess long term infrastructure and
service needs
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7. Plan Outputs

9. PSP Guidelines launched by the
Minister for Planning, October 2009.

10. Manor Lakes PSP

11. GAA Relevance to Peri Urban Places
• Growth rates of Peri-Urban
centres are substantial
• Rates of growth only behind
designated growth areas
and Melbourne City Council
• Peri-Urban centres will
continue to prosper
• GAA currently assisting with
planning outputs in Latrobe
and Baw Baw Councils

12. What makes Peri-Urban Centres Special?
• Strong Communities
• Good transport
connections
• Often have excellent
“social infrastructure”
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Health, Education, Police
and Emergency Services,
Sporting and Cultural
Facilities, Heritage, etc.
• Real places with broad
cross section of
community
• Lifestyle attributes,
Character
• Capacity to grow

13. GAA Approach to Planning
• Co-ordinated and collaborative
process between Council,
landowners, stakeholders and
Agencies.
• Consistent outcomes with
response to local context.
• Better structural outcomes,
Better “placemaking”
• Identifies infrastructure
requirements and allocates
funding
• Streamlining of process and
resultant timeliness

14. Creating Resilient, Connected and well Serviced
Communities
• Access and Connectivity
• Permeability and Walkability
• Support and emphasise existing
physical and social infrastructure
• Ensuring equitable distribution of
services and facilities
• Avoiding piecemeal solutions,
responding to the legacy of past
decisions
• Understand thresholds to
facilitate infrastructure
• Resource and allocate funding
• Don’t forget jobs and transport

15. Latrobe City Council Example