Activity Centre Design Guidelines

Thank you to everyone who recently participated in our consultation on the Activity Centre Design Concepts, between April and June 2024.

We’ll consider your feedback as we prepare the new draft Manningham Activity Centre Design Guidelines, which will be shared for further community input in 2025.

This initial phase of engagement sought feedback from the community on how we can best accommodate growth and development, while ensuring that our activity centres and surrounding neighbourhoods maintain their liveability.

We invited feedback via a series of pop-up stalls at local markets and shopping centres, community focus group sessions and at several of Council’s Advisory Committee meetings.

Community members also submitted more than 230 responses to our Activity Centre Design Concepts survey.

The consultation generated an enthusiastic and insightful response from our community.

Summary of key findings from the consultation:

• Over 75% of respondents identified it important to consider impact on neighbourhood character with new mixed-use developments.
• Over 70% of respondents identified height as an important consideration for new mixed-use development.
• Over 90% of respondents either strongly agreed or somewhat agreed it is important to maintain sunlight to footpaths and public spaces.
• Over 90% of respondents either strongly agreed or somewhat agreed it is important to minimise overshadowing and overlooking of residential properties.
• Over 90% of respondents either strongly agreed or somewhat agreed it is important to provide high quality public spaces as part of larger developments.
• 75% of respondents either strongly agreed or somewhat agreed it is important to provide awnings over footpaths for weather protection.
• Over 80% of respondents either strongly agreed or somewhat agreed it is important for new buildings to function efficiently, and reduce energy use.
• Over 80% of respondents either strongly agreed or somewhat agreed it is important to minimise the visual impact of car parking.

Further details will be provided about the next phase of consultation closer to the date, in 2025.

This consultation has now closed.

Are you interested in helping shape the future direction of housing and commercial growth and development in Manningham?

Join one of our upcoming focus group sessions to discuss some of our key strategic projects, including the Manningham Residential Strategy and Activity Centre Design Guidelines.

We'll also be inviting feedback on the Victorian Government's plan for Victoria – the first statewide strategy to guide Victoria's growth until 2050.

• Session one: Wednesday 8 May 2024, 6.30pm to 8.00pm
• Session two: Thursday 9 May 2024, 10.30am to 12.00pm (noon)

Manningham Civic Centre, Function Room 3, 699 Doncaster Road, Doncaster, VIC 3108

Click here to learn more about the focus group sessions and register.

We hope you can join us to discuss these key strategic projects.

This consultation has now closed.

We’re inviting the community to have their say on our Activity Centre Design Concepts.

Take the survey

We're creating principles to guide good design for neighbourhood activity centres and inviting the community to contribute.

With the population expected to increase to more than 140,000 people in the next 12 years, activity centres will play an integral role in accommodating urban growth and development in Manningham.

The Activity Centre Design Concepts include objectives under six key themes:

1. Building height
2. Residential interfaces
3. Architectural presentation
4. Public realm
5. Sustainability
6. Access and car parking.

Manningham Mayor, Councillor Carli Lange said, “We want to hear from the community on how we can best accommodate growth and development, while ensuring that our activity centres and surrounding neighbourhoods maintain their liveability”.

“If you’re a resident, chances are you regularly visit at least one of our vibrant activity centres across the municipality,” Cr Lange said.

“We want to ensure that they continue to provide desirable destinations for people to live, shop, work and play – offering a range of retail, office and business opportunities, housing, community and education facilities,” Cr Lange added.

Community feedback on the Activity Centre Design Concepts will help inform the development of our draft Activity Centre Design Guidelines, which will be exhibited for community consultation in 2025.

The guidelines will be used to assess planning permit applications in activity centres as part of the Manningham Planning Scheme.

Our short survey closes on Sunday 16 June.

Participants to the survey will have the chance to enter the draw to win a $100 Westfield gift voucher.