Settlement identifies the sort of development we want to see in activity centres.
An activity centre is an area with good access to employment, public transport and other amenities. They include Yarra's retail streets, such as Swan Street in Richmond or Brunswick Street in Fitzroy.
We have prepared a number of Design and Development Overlays (DDOs) that introduce height and setback controls for our activity centres. They are not part of this amendment but you can read about them on our website.
Settlement introduces two new local policies: a new activity centre policy and a redrafted Victoria Street East policy.
Activity Centres
The Activity Centre policy defines Yarra’s hierarchy of activity centres and sets out strategies to facilitate appropriate economic and housing growth and provide attractive places for social interaction.
Yarra's activity centres are divided into three different categories:
Plan Melbourne are defines Major Activity Centres (MACs) as suburban centres that provide access to a wide range of goods and services. They have different attributes and provide different functions, with some serving larger subregional catchments. Yarra's 5 MACs are listed in Plan Melbourne. They host a vibrant and constantly evolving range of retail, entertainment, hospitality and commercial services and are located along and around:
- Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
- Smith Street, Collingwood/Fitzroy
- Bridge Road, Richmond
- Swan Street, Richmond
- Victoria Street, Abbotsford/Richmond
Neighbourhood Activity Centres (NACs) provide access to local goods, employment opportunities and serve the needs of the surrounding community. In the City of Yarra there are 8 NACs, located in:
- Gertrude Street, Fitzroy
- Heidelberg Road, Alphington
- Johnston Street, Abbotsford/Collingwood
- Johnston Street, Fitzroy
- Nicholson Street, Fitzroy North
- Rathdowne Street, Carlton North
- St. Georges Road, Fitzroy North
- Queens Parade, Clifton Hill/Fitzroy North
Local Activity Centres (LACs) are smaller, local centres which serve the local community. They are also appropriate locations for employment growth however this growth will be modest.
In the City of Yarra there are 2 LACs, these are located in:
- Berry/Ramsden & Spensley Streets
- Lygon, Nicholson & Rathdowne Streets
Victoria Street East
The Victoria Street East policy aims to protect and enhance the Yarra River corridor while facilitating suitably designed, higher density new development at the eastern end of Victoria Street. This is an update and translation of the existing policy into the new format.
Learn more about these policies
Watch the video below for more information on the proposed policies that relate to our activity centres, or watch all our information videos on Amendment C269.
