A city's livability is directly connected to the quality of its public places. Members of IMPA share concerns about the implications of current planning initiatives that will radically transform the shape of inner Melbourne, placing a significant load on our existing infrastructure, without adequate mechanisms to secure the amenities required by new and existing communities. The current wave of government policies and projects carry high risks, and a high potential for missed opportunities, in terms of amenity, viable public transport and sustainable commercial activity, locking Melbourne into a road-based future. These initiatives include the

• Fishermans Bend Urban Renewal Area (FBURA) Vision and Interim Guidelines;
• the Port of Melbourne Upgrade;
• East West Link Stage 1 & 2
• The Arden Macaulay Urban Renewal Area
• Victoria; The Freight State,
• Expanded Capital City Zone - substantially expanded the area of CBD well beyond the grid with previous Planning Minister nominating himself the Responsible Authority.
• Major overhaul of the Planning Zones, months before the Draft Strategic Planning document
• PLAN Melbourne

When completed, the new urban renewal areas alone will increase the size of the current CBD by over 300%. Concerned by a lack of acknowledgement of the risks involved, combined with the speed with which the government is seeking to make these changes, IMPA is seeking an independent review to consider all current proposals in much greater detail and to develop.

Fishermans Bend Urban Renewal Area (FBURA)

The Fishermans Bend Urban Renewal Draft Vision document was released on 16 September 2013.  It sets out a vision to guide a 50 year plan for the Fishermans Bend Urban Renewal Area, which, along with the Government’s PLAN MELBOURNE strategy which sets a framework for significant change for inner Melbourne  to meet its projected population growth and future economic objectives. 

It is anticipated that, by 2050, Fishermans Bend will contribute a community of 80,000 people and 40,000 jobs to Melbourne’s projected population of 8 million. Find out more here.

East West Link (EWL)

The Comprehensive Impact Statement for the East West Link project understates the actual impact of this project on public health, amenity and environment. Given this fact and the significant levels of investment required to complete this major infrastructure Project, IMPA is seeking an extension of the public consultation period and the establishment of an independent review panel. The purpose of the panel would be to:

1.       Assess the priority level of the EWL against all other transport initiatives recommended in the Eddington Report (2008).

2.       Produce an unbiased and accurate Comprehensive Impact Statement.

Find out more here.

Arden Macaulay Urban Renewal Area (AMURA)

In December 2012 a group of residents, developers, planners, councillors, state MPs, architects and urban designers, gathered at the former Young & Husband Wool Store, to consider the potential consequences of Planning Amendment C190. The two day workshop was organized by the architectural cooperative, Architeam and ARC, the Architectural Research Consultancy. Each participant came to understand the complexities of the others position and common ground was reached. The idea for IMPA emerged from that meeting. Find out more here.

As part of the Participate Melbourne online community, the City of Melbourne has made some helpful information available about the C190 Planning Amendment. It is a good starting point if you are unfamiliar with the process.

Plan Melbourne

PLAN Melbourne is the Victorian Government’s strategic plan for metropolitan Melbourne to 2050.  It sets out directions, initiatives and short, medium and long term actions for infrastructure, housing, employment, the environment, an integrated land use, transport and social infrastructure to meet the demands of population growth and climate adaptation. Find out more here.