Statement from the Chief Executive Officer, Dale Dickson PSM
The City of Stonnington was blindsided by the State government’s ‘train and tram zone’ activity centres announcement yesterday, with nine out of twenty-five located in Stonnington.
This unilateral announcement represents major urban planning and public policy by stealth, which risks poor long term liveability outcomes for residents.
Had the State government asked, Stonnington would have confirmed it is already well placed to deliver on the government’s population and housing growth targets, particularly in transit-orientated locations.
Stonnington has in place a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to delivering on future housing needs, which is based on substantial community engagement and which will best ensure the liveability and amenity of local neighbourhoods are not unduly eroded. Stonnington is planning for more intensive housing growth in the right locations to ensure greater housing choice and more inclusive, vibrant neighbourhoods.
Critically, Stonnington’s current land use planning framework provides for an additional 65,000 dwellings by 2051. This is well in excess of the State government’s target of 51,000 by 2051.
Given the widespread local community interest and lack of detail in the State’s announcement, Stonnington will be working hard to make sense of the announcement and its implications in the coming weeks. Importantly, we will be highlighting the solutions already outlined in the Council’s housing strategy, along with further work in early 2025 on a proposed neighbourhood activity centre program which will ensure appropriate forms of housing and other development in designated locations within Stonnington’s local retail and commercial centres.
