CONSULTATION is underway for the future of Gisborne, and Macedon Ranges Shire Council is encouraging residents to have their say on the draft plans.
Council officers collaborated online with design consultants City Collective to host three public webinars discussing the draft plans.
Council is seeking feedback as they near the end of the planning phase, and all the draft documents are available on council’s website for review by Gisborne residents.
Draft plans include a Gisborne Neighbourhood Character Study, a long-term Structure Plan and an Urban Design Framework.
The webinars gave people the chance to ask any questions or address concerns they had with the draft plans.
Council officers compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions and gathered responses for each one.
Some of the questions surrounded population growth, areas selected for development, and the purpose of the plans.
The Gisborne Futures project was developed to manage growth and change in Gisborne over the next 30 years.
The Macedon Ranges Statement of Planning Policy (SPP) applies protected settlement boundaries to towns within the Macedon Ranges identified as having capacity for future growth.
In response to a question, council’s website described the Neighbourhood Character Study’s purpose as detailing which features of Gisborne made it unique and distinctive to other towns.
Through a neighbourhood character study an objective description of a neighbourhood’s existing character is used to develop planning controls and guidelines that ensure new development is sited and designed to respond to the existing or preferred future character of an area.
The purpose of the Urban Design Framework is to form urban design guidelines and streetscape concept plans that seek to maintain Gisborne’s village character.
The quality and design of buildings and streetscapes in the town centre is important to the overall image and appearance of Gisborne, making it an attractive place to live and to invest – which contributes significantly to the economic viability of the township.
A Structure Plan will guide the future of township growth, including housing, transport, shops, parks, landscapes and infrastructure.
For more information, contact council’s strategic planning team on 5422 0333, or visit mrsc.vic.gov.au to view the plans.
