GROWTH took centre stage as developers, landowners and key stakeholders joined in at a recent City of Whittlesea developer forum.
The forum focused on the shared responsibility of the council, the Victorian Government and industry to meet the expectations of a rapidly growing community, including provision of affordable homes, high-quality parks and places, community facilities and connecting roads, streets and active travel options.
The City of Whittlesea continues to experience significant growth in its established and growth areas. This growth brings both opportunity and responsibility to ensure development is well-coordinated and well-designed, infrastructure is delivered in a timely way, and communities are supported from the outset.
Developers enjoyed presentations on some of the significant work under way, including advocacy priorities, capital works delivery, open space planning, fire prevention and emergency management.
Information on council programs, such as sustainable development, good design and heritage protection, is being shared to guide industry and provide clarity for future projects.
City of Whittlesea CEO Craig Lloyd said the community has clear expectations for well-connected, liveable neighbourhoods. By working closely with developers and industry, the council can better align infrastructure with growth and deliver places where people and families can thrive.
The key objectives of the forum included:
Recognising the importance of protecting and celebrating the city’s unique heritage and landscape
Articulating council’s commitment to sustainable development, good design and long-term environmental outcomes
Continuing support for economic growth, local jobs and investment across the municipality
Improving the visibility of the capital works pipeline of council to align with investment by industry
Achieving stronger alignment on advocacy priorities to support the timely delivery of critical infrastructure, including key road upgrades, improved bus services, the Wollert Rail project, the Outer Metropolitan Ring/E6 Freeway, and better mobile and broadband coverage
Improving collaboration on bushfire risk management and community safety
The forum reinforced the importance of delivering communities that go beyond housing – supporting access to jobs, services, social infrastructure and diverse housing options, including affordable housing.
Workshops throughout the day focused on advocacy, community housing partnerships, the Planning Scheme review and economic growth, providing an opportunity for deeper collaboration and shared problem-solving.
