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Community representatives sought for development study

Latrobe City Council is calling for community representative nominations for the Latrobe Transit Cities Masterplan Project Reference Group.

By Latrobe City Council - 30th April 2003 - Back to News

The community representatives will work with specialist urban design and planning consultancies to prepare strategies to guide the development of transit centred precincts radiating from the Moe, Morwell and Traralgon railway stations.

Latrobe City Mayor, Councillor Graeme Middlemiss, said the Latrobe Transit Corridor Masterplan Project was one of a number of such studies either being undertaken or planned around Victoria, particularly focussed on major regional centres such as Latrobe. "In particular they hone in on opportunities being created by the fast rail upgrades and the improved transport links between Victoria’s regional centres and Melbourne," Cr Middlemiss explained.

"The State Government is looking beyond the metropolitan regions to sustain Victoria’s growth, and envisages regional centres within the State as playing a key role in that strategy. Improving the transport links to those centres, which is currently underway, is the first stage of developing infrastructure to facilitate this.

"The second step is to ensure that those centres develop in a desirable and sustainable way through the planning process, and the development taking place stimulates local and regional economic and social regeneration.

Cr Middlemiss said the strategies will look at long-range preferred development within each precinct, and identify shorter-term improvements to the design and management of public infrastructure, including the railway stations.

"The strategies will also consider ways of providing a stronger focus on public and commercial activities in each town and improving the attractiveness of each precinct. There will also be an emphasis on increasing the diversity and affordability of housing within the precincts, while enhancing accessibility to employment and services," Cr Middlemiss said.

Latrobe City’s General Manager, City Strategy, Paul Buckley, said the strategies will seek to improve the ‘walkability’ and encourage an increase in the intensity, diversity and quality of development within each precinct, particularly in the immediate context of the railway stations.

"The strategies will take the form of Urban Renewal Frameworks for each transit-centred precinct, and individual Masterplans for each railway station and surrounding areas. The Frameworks will provide broad policies for the structuring of each precinct, supported by general urban design principles, and identify opportunities for new development and public infrastructure improvements. The Masterplans will provide more detailed recommendations on the design and management of each railway station and key development sites, streets and public spaces," Mr Buckley said.

"The recommendations will seek to find the right balance between being visionary and forward-thinking in nature while being financially viable and practically achievable."

The consultant team led by David Lock & Associates, Urban Design and Town Planning, will be undertaking community consultation as part of the project, to identify and explore issues with the community.

Three community workshops will be conducted, each focusing on a particular precinct. Traralgon’s workshop will take place at the Traralgon Performing Arts Centre, Tuesday 6 May 2003; Morwell’s workshop at Kernot Hall Foyer, Wednesday 7 May 2003; and Moe’s workshop at the Newborough Hall, Thursday 8 May 2003. Each workshop will take place between 6pm and 8pm. Those interested are welcome to attend. No RSVP is necessary.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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