A NEW primary school in the north, more household water tanks and a push towards a café society, could be on the cards for City of Maribyrnong.
All these suggestions were raised in the Municipal Strategic Statement (MSS) and Local Planning Policies review, tabled at last Tuesday’s council meeting.
Maribyrnong CEO Kerry Thompson said the MSS “set the vision for the planning and development of the municipality. We really depend upon it when working on planning applications and appeals.
“The State Government, the Department of Sustainability and Environment and Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal look at our MSS.
“It also affects our budget, community planning and services.”
Ms Thompson said a highlight of the report was ecologically sustainable development.
“For instance, encouraging people to use water tanks (to conserve water) but also other points such as improving public transport so people aren’t dependent on cars,” she said.
Ms Thompson said there was a demand to create activity hubs, where people could “live, work and visit”.
“In places like Yarraville and Seddon, people have strong community support for a place where you can go for your retail needs, meet your friends and have a cup of coffee and catch a train.
“The community is fairly supportive of creating more activity hubs.”
Increased infrastructure development in Maribyrnong was also raised in the review.
A new primary school and an education services hub were suggested for the north of Maribyrnong to meet the needs of the expanding population in the area.
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She said the possible development of the Maribyrnong Department of Defence site on Cordite Avenue, as a residential complex by VicUrban (which is as yet unresolved) would also affect the MSS.
“It’s not just residential planning we have to consider but there’s obviously the river front to consider, heritage overlays protecting the site among other conditions.”
The MSSis reviewed about every three years, with the last one produced in 2002.
Ms Thompson said suggested changes for the municipality would be considered but not necessarily included in the MSS.
“It’s up to the council to decide what’s appropriate for the municipality and whether an idea that is presented by a community member is in line with other state and council policies,” she said.
“The council also determines what the priorities are for the MSS, so basically, the council looks at what’s practical, what’s within our sphere to influence, and whether an idea or action is congruent with other policies and visions – it all needs to fit and make sense.”
Community consultations regarding the strategic direction of the municipality took place over six weeks from July to August this year.
A draft of the new MSS is expected early next year.
