What are we proposing?

The planning scheme describes and controls how land in an area can be used and developed. The current planning scheme for the Brunswick Activity Centre is so complex it is very difficult for anyone to understand what use and development Council and the community support.

We are proposing to:

• Keep the key elements of current requirements
• Fill gaps
• Make the planning scheme simpler, clearer and more consistent
• Create a single Brunswick Activity Centre Zone for the area
• To divide the new zone into use-based precincts: Core Employment, Multi Use, and Housing

Why?

The Merri-bek community's vision is to: Live locally, have vibrant businesses, encourage more businesses to invest, have access to services. Council has been working towards this vision.

But in the Brunswick Activity Centre, new developments are focusing on apartments and not providing enough space for new businesses.

Merri-bek City Council wants to encourage business investment and jobs in the Brunswick Activity Centre to ensure the vibrancy of the area does not decline.

What is not changing?

Elements that will not change are:

• How tall buildings should be
• How far buildings should be from property boundaries
• How much car parking buildings should have
• The opportunity for community to have a say on planning applications.

What you told us...

In October last year Council invited ideas from the community about how we could ensure the Brunswick Activity Centre is a vibrant area to live, work and play.

We have used this feedback to guide the changes we’re proposing. To find out more about what you told us and the resulting key proposed changes, read our Find out more about Vibrant Brunswick page.

A report on the feedback to date is now available to read.