Demolition of the Ivanhoe water tank by Development Victoria is currently under way and is scheduled to be completed by September 2024. The Council park and playground will be closed for the duration of these works.
Visit the Development Victoria website for more information or view the Ivanhoe Tank
Site June 2024 update and factsheet.
Thank you to everyone who provided feedback on the draft Plans for redevelopment of the Ivanhoe Water Tank site.
The draft Plans for the Council park and the residential development were approved on Monday 15 July 2024. At its meeting, Council considered submissions and resolved that Council:
To watch the Council Meeting from the 15 July or view the minutes, go to Council's website and refer to Item 6.2 in the minutes.
Drawings of the proposed development and feedback received during Stage 1 Community Engagement can be found below.
From 8 April to 10 May 2024 we asked the community for their feedback on the draft Plans for redevelopment of the Ivanhoe Water Tank site, including:
49 people provided feedback through an online survey and further feedback was received from in-person community information sessions conducted on site.
On reviewing your feedback, a report to Council considered the following:
Council’s resolution on considering feedback to the draft plans is provided above.
For further details, view a summary of written responses to the Plans for the Ivanhoe Water Tank site (Item 6.2, page 118 - 162)
From 17 July to 7 August 2023 we asked the community about preferred design elements of the new playground. 150 people provided feedback through an online survey and two community pop-up sessions.
View the full consultation report or take a look below at a summary of what we heard below.
All park feature options, in the predetermined list, were appropriate for a local park.
A number of community requests have not been provided
due to the limited size and slope of the park and potential adverse impacts on adjacent residential properties.
View the draft Council park key ideas.
31% of participants requested a small shelter
The park design allows for significant areas of indigenous garden bed plantings as well as substantial taller trees. This excellent canopy of trees will provide shade during the summer and help to reduce the urban heat island effect.
Shading should also be provided in the form of an awning or portico projecting from the residential building. This is to provide weather protection and an appropriate transition between the built form and the park.
17% of participants requested a half court
There has been a focus on the central lawn as a flexible activity space that can accommodate a wide variety of activities. A half court has not been included due to potential conflicts (e.g. excessive noise) that may adversely impact adjacent residential properties (including the development).
15% of participants requested irrigated open grassed area
The design has focused on the central lawn as a permeable, green and flexible activity space that can accommodate a wide variety of activities while avoiding excessive amounts of hard pavement. The intension is to provide enough ‘flexible’ open grassed areas and to not ‘fill’ the park with too many elements.
65% of participants strongly supported nature play elements
The provision of substantial areas of garden bed allows for the integration of nature based play opportunities within the overall park design, including rock stepping stones, tree logs for climbing and planting that can provide materials for play.
The Ivanhoe Water Tank Site is located near the Austin Hospital, on the corner of Bell Street and Upper Heidelberg Road. The existing water tank has not been in use since 2004.
The Site will be redeveloped by Development Victoria, the Victorian Government's property developer, to provide a residential development and a new Council park.
Council had the role of assessing and approving a concept plan for the Council park and a Development Plan for the proposed residential development.
Approximately 2,000 square meters of the former water tank site has been set aside for the new Council Park. Development Victoria is working with Council, Traditional Owners and the community to bring the park to life.
With the existing playground nearing the end of its life, a unique opportunity exists to design a new park which meets the community’s needs and provides ease of access and connectivity – one of Council’s key open space goals.
The current park sits between Forster Street and Upper Heidelberg Road, Ivanhoe. It contains a small playground that is well used by local families. This park is classified as a local park, as outlined in the open space classifications of our Public Open Space Plan 2016 - 2031.
Local Parks are usually small playgrounds designed to cater for residents living within 400 metres. These playgrounds include one to two items of play equipment for a limited number of age groups. Local Parks are usually only used by residents from nearby streets who would normally access the park by foot or bike.
A concept plan for the park has been developed and approved after considering feedback from two rounds of community engagement.
The remainder of the Ivanhoe Water Tank site will be used to deliver a residential development.
A planning provision was placed in the Banyule Planning Scheme by the State Government in 2018, which guides planning for the residential development including but not limited to:
This provision is Schedule 7 to the Development Plan Overlay (DPO7).
The DPO7 requires the approval by Council of a Development Plan (DP) for the proposed residential development. The approved DP will guide assessment for the future planning permit that will be required for the residential development.
Please note: Subject to the Development Plan Overlay, where a DP has been approved by Council, the subsequent planning permit application will be exempt from being advertised for comment.
Council has now approved the Development Plan for the residential development, subject to a variation regarding the provision of affordable housing.
Visit Ivanhoe - Development Victoria for a DP Summary presentation and frequently asked questions.
Our community is made up of diverse cultures, beliefs, abilities, bodies, sexualities, ages and genders. We are committed to access, equity, participation and rights for everyone: principles which empower, foster harmony and increase the wellbeing of an inclusive community.
Banyule City Council is proud to acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people as traditional custodians of the land and we pay respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders, past, present and emerging, who have resided in the area and have been an integral part of the region’s history.
