Thank you to everyone who provided feedback on the Heidelberg Structure Plan. Your feedback helped us finalise the Plan that will guide and co-ordinate Council investment and activity in the Heidelberg Major Activity Centre over the next twenty years.

A report on the Heidelberg Structure Plan was presented to Council on Monday 17 April 2023.

Watch a recording of the Council Meeting or view the Council minutes and report here.

At this meeting, Council resolved the following:

1. To approve the Heidelberg Structure Plan (April 2023).
2. Request the Minister for Planning to authorise the preparation and exhibition of Amendment C172 to the Banyule Planning Scheme, in accordance with the Planning and Environment Act 1987, which proposes planning scheme changes outlined in this report to implement the Heidelberg Structure Plan (April 2023).
3. That a report will be presented to Council after public exhibition of Amendment C172 to the Banyule Planning Scheme and that the report will consider all submissions received.

Next steps

Council’s resolution is the first step to begin an extensive statutory assessment of the proposed Amendment C172.

In accordance with point 2 of Council’s resolution:

• A request will be submitted to the Minister for Planning to authorise the preparation and exhibition of the proposed Amendment C172 to the Banyule Planning Scheme.
• On receipt of authorisation from the Minister for Planning, Council will place the proposed amendment on public exhibition in accordance with the requirements of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 (the Act).

During exhibition, the community and other stakeholders will have the opportunity to submit a written submission to the amendment, which in accordance with the Act, will be formally considered by Council and potentially an independent planning panel. Public exhibition is scheduled for August/September 2023.

Public notice of commencement of the exhibition will be provided here on Shaping Banyule and by public notices required by the Act. So remember to click the 'follow' button at the top of this page to stay up-to-date on this project.

The Heidelberg Structure Plan is a place-based strategic framework that will guide growth and coordinate Council investment and activity in the Heidelberg Major Activity Centre over the next twenty years.

The Structure Plan builds upon the previous 2010 version and establishes the basis for the future application of an Activity Centre Zone (ACZ) in the Banyule Planning Scheme. Key elements of the plan include:

• a framework for the whole Heidelberg centre
• 6 precincts, each with its own vision, strategies and actions.
• objectives and strategies for ‘Activity and Land Use’, ‘Built form and Character’, ‘Access and Connection’ and ‘Places for People: Public Realm and Open Space’.

To stay up to date on this project, click on the 'follow' button at the top of this page.

Following the consultation period in 2021 on the draft Heidelberg Structure Plan, we:

• Collated and analysed all your feedback and provided a summary report on the community engagement finds.
• Council considered all the feedback received prior to finalising the Plan at its meeting on 6 December 2021 and request that it be presented with a proposed planning scheme amendment to implement the Heidelberg Structure Plan.

Most recently, we:

• Considered a draft Amendment C172 to the Banyule Planning Scheme (17 April 2023), which proposes to implement the Heidelberg Structure Plan through the scheme.
• Resolved to take the steps to formally commence and exhibit the amendment.
• Approved a revised version of the Heidelberg Structure Plan, dated April 2023, which includes minor modifications to better support the proposed amendment.

In addition to pursuing the planning scheme amendment, we will develop an implementation plan which will coordinate the proposed actions detailed in the Structure Plan, along with other Council activities and initiatives to ensure coordinated and timely outcomes are delivered.

The Heidelberg Activity Centre

The Heidelberg Activity Centre is bounded by the Yarra River, Brown Street, St Hellier Street, Waterdale Road and Banksia Street. It is a large and diverse area with a mix of retail and commercial services, residential properties, major hospitals, public transport and large parklands.

About the project

This new Heidelberg Structure Plan (April 2023) will guide and shape the future of the Heidelberg Activity Centre. It is designed to build on Heidelberg’s unique features and produce a new community focused centre which delivers more jobs, attracts vibrant businesses, supports diverse and well-designed housing, is better connected and has inviting public open spaces.

Project stages

Development and planning implementation of the new Heidelberg Structure Plan is being completed in four stages.

• Stage 1 (complete)
  We assessed the performance of the Centre undertaking extensive community engagement and commissioned several technical studies, including:
  • Economic Analysis
  • Built Form Review
  • Movement and Place Plan
  • Place Making Action Plan
• Stage 2 (complete)
  A set of key directions for the new Structure Plan was prepared. These were based on the key findings and recommendations from community consultation, stakeholder input and the technical background documents. This stage delivered initiatives, such as parklets and a pop up park, to support post COVID-19 recovery and community re-connection.
• Stage 3 (complete)
  A new Heidelberg Structure Plan was drafted. We sought feedback on the draft Plan, to make sure we have it right. Council considered all your feedback before approving a new Heidelberg Structure Plan in December 2021.
• Stage 4 (current)
  Amendment C172 to the Banyule Planning Scheme has been prepared to implement this Structure Plan through the scheme. As detailed in the project update on this page:
  • Council resolved on 17 April 2023 to commence the planning scheme amendment, seeking authorisation from the Minister for Planning, and pending approval, place the amendment on public exhibition.
  • Council has approved a revised version of the Heidelberg Structure Plan, dated April 2023, which includes modifications to better inform and support the proposed Amendment C172.

The statutory process to assess Amendment C172 is approximately 12 months with public exhibition of the amendment expected to take place in August/September 2023.