The Victorian Government has announced an additional 50 new ‘train and tram zone’ Activity Centres to help deliver more than 300,000 additional homes across Melbourne by 2051.
The expansion of the Activity Centre Program follows the State Government’s Activity Centre Pilot Program for 10 activity centres, which includes Moorabbin (Hampton East) Activity Centre. The program reviews existing planning policy, to encourage increased housing development and density.
The Victorian Government's Housing Statement: The decade ahead 2024-2034 sets a target to build 800,000 homes in Victoria over the next decade. The Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) is working in collaboration with the Victorian Planning Authority (VPA) to deliver the Activity Centre Program, as part of the new Housing Statement.
Of the additional 50 new areas, the Victorian Government announced they will be reviewing planning controls surrounding the activity centres in North Brighton, Middle Brighton, Hampton and Sandringham. Similarly to the review in Hampton East (Moorabbin), the Victorian Government have also announced that they will also be looking at new planning controls in the ‘walkable catchment area’ which is up to 800 metres from respective train stations.
In the absence of any real detail, Council has estimated that the Activity Centre Programs and SRL Precinct area combined has the ability to change planning controls for more than 47% of Bayside. The below map shows the indicative areas that may undergo some level of planning change in the next 12 – 24 months by the State Government as part of their Activity Centre Program Expansion and the Suburban Rail Loop precinct area.
Council is supportive of housing growth in suitable areas and has a well-established strategic planning framework that directs and accommodates housing growth in activity centres whilst preserving neighbourhood character.
Extensive community engagement has helped shape structure plans for all of Bayside’s major, neighbourhood and small activity centres.
Council is concerned that the Activity Centre Program for Moorabbin (Hampton East) is occurring with little to no meaningful engagement with our community. The VPA undertook two perfunctory phases of engagement with the community.
Phase 1 was undertaken from 28 March to 29 April 2024. Council concurrently undertook their own engagement from 3 April to 29 April 2024. Feedback gathered through this engagement was used to inform Council’s first response to the State Government in June 2024.
A second phase of engagement was released on Thursday 22 August, which was the Draft Activity Centre Plan. Council officers subsequently prepared a response and position paper in answer to the Draft Activity Centre Plan, which was endorsed by Council at its 16 September Council meeting.
Following the release of the Draft Activity Centre Plan, and also during the caretaker period, Council officers were provided with copies of draft planning controls for the Activity Centre Program with feedback requested to be provided in a 2-week period.
Further to this Council officers were later provided with another draft Planning Control by the State Government, with feedback to be provided within 3 business days.
Council officers stressed in responses to the State Government that these timeframes are plainly unreasonable. Additionally, none of the draft Planning Controls were provided to the affected communities for comment.
See the Project Library on this page for Council responses to the State Government.
Community Forum on Planning Reforms 18 December 2024
The Victorian Government's Housing Statement: The decade ahead 2024-2034 sets a target to build 800,000 homes in Victoria over the next decade.
The Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) is working in collaboration with the Victorian Planning Authority (VPA) to deliver the Activity Centre Program, as part of the new Housing Statement.
The program seeks to review existing planning policy, initially, for 10 activity centres in Melbourne to encourage the development of 60,000 new homes. Moorabbin (Hampton East) Activity Centre is one of these activity centres.
The program is reviewing the planning controls currently in place within the Hampton East / Moorabbin Activity Centre.
On 22 August 2024, the State Government announced its commencement of public engagement on the Draft Activity Centre Plan.
Bayside City Council already has the Hampton East (Moorabbin) Activity Centre Structure Plan in place, which has been implemented in the Bayside Planning Scheme. The State Government’s Draft Plan is proposing changes to the area, including new and increased building height controls for the activity centre and surrounding catchment.
Background
In April 2024, we asked our community what they thought about the Victorian Government’s plan to review the Moorabbin (Hampton East) Activity Centre. This feedback (link) was provided back to the State Government with the purpose that it inform their Draft Activity Centre Plan for Moorabbin. In June 2024, Council endorsed a submission to the Victorian Government's Activity Centre Program.
Council officers are preparing a further submission in response to the Draft Activity Centre Plan for Moorabbin which will continue to utilise the feedback which was received previously by the community in April 2024.
Bayside submission to Activity Centre Program
Council endorsed a submission to the Victorian Government Moorabbin Activity Centre Program in June 2024
Explore the Moorabbin Activity Centre (Hampton East) neighborhood
Project updates
Stay informed
We want to make sure you have access to as much information as possible and are kept up to date on this Activity Centre Program as it progresses – please subscribe here to receive updates.
This is not a Bayside City Council project, so please also visit and keep up-to-date via Engage Victoria.
Document library
Ways to have your say
- Directly to the Victorian Planning Authority via Engage Victoria
- Email the Victorian Planning Authority at moorabbin@vpa.vic.gov.au
- Contact Clare Beames, Senior Strategic Planner via email at cbeames@bayside.vic.gov.au or phone 9599 4839
- In person to the Corporate Centre at 76 Royal Avenue, Sandringham.
- Post to Bayside City Council, PO Box 27 Sandringham 3091.
- Anonymously using any of the above methods.
Community engagement overview
How we're engaging the Bayside community in our advocacy on this Victorian Government project.
