As part of the Brumby Government’s Hume and Whittlesea Community Cabinet, Parliamentary Secretary for Planning Jenny Mikakos today said the plan provides for 4500 new homes while protecting local Redgum woodlands and threatened grasslands.

“Protecting trees and providing open space are key parts to what makes living in our northern suburbs great,” Ms Mikakos said.

“The Brumby Government applauds the City of Whittlesea for its urban design which is raising the standards of residential development in Melbourne by making our neighbourhoods more distinctive and diverse, walkable, sociable and sustainable.”

The council is the first of the five Growth Areas to complete its Precinct Structure Plans (PSP) – the primary tool for master-planning communities of up to 30,000 people, designed to create new communities rather than housing estates.

The Growth Areas Authority (GAA) has been given an increased role to support councils in preparing 37 PSPs over the next four years, with a stronger focus on sustainable developments.

“Whittlesea Council has put in place planning reforms that will help meet Melbourne’s population growth by designing new communities that are less car-dependent, less power and water hungry and more liveable,” she said.

A number of major residential developments will be ready to proceed in the new suburb once planning permits are approved.

Whittlesea Mayor Cr Elizabeth Nealy said the Brumby Government’s support was a positive and welcome recognition of the enormous work in-house by Council and staff over many years.

“This has culminated in the recent approval by the Planning Minister of the Epping North East Local Structure Plan, the final piece of the growth area puzzle,” Cr Nealy said.
 
“The council has long recognised the important role that the structure planning process can play in setting up the conditions to support healthy, diverse, distinctive and ultimately more sustainable communities. “

“The City of Whittlesea looks forward to continuing the close working relationship with the Victorian Government in the implementation of these plans,” she said.