DAREBIN: Keep Thornbury’s character
Darebin Council has told the State Government that the character of Thornbury as a suburb, and its individual streets, needs to be preserved as plans for the Major Activity Centres are developed.
Following on from the Council’s October 27 meeting, a submission was sent next day to the Department of Transport and Planning.
Darebin Council’s priorities are that the state Government:
• ensures the inner catchment of the Thornbury Activity Centre is not treated as a single, uniform zone, but instead recognises the distinct character, constraints, and access limitations of individual streets,
• continues to plan for primary and secondary school capacity to accommodate the projected increase in families and children resulting from future housing development in the area,
• maintain smid-rise development across High St and St Georges Rd cores, capped at six storeys, except in specific circumstances that meet the additional criteria set out in the submission,
• allow taller buildings, only considered on large, master-planned sites and supported by a robust public benefits framework under the Built Form Overlay, but have a maximum height of 10 storeys on such sites.
The Council is asking for:
• the opportunity to work further with the State Government to support detailed planning controls and infrastructure investment into the Thornbury Cluster.
• the State Government to engage further with the community as planning progresses, enabling genuine feedback on proposals.
• the State Government to provide information on available funding streams and contributions to support local infrastructure delivery; and
• that the State Government’s proposed list of infrastructure projects remains confidential until such time that the State Government and Council have thoroughly collaborated and reached agreement.