Activity Centre Design Concepts, consultation summary

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.