Council calls on locals to “participate”

Neighbourhood planning is underway across the City of Melbourne and the council is calling on locals in North Melbourne, West Melbourne and Parkville to have their say before April 30.

Through its Participate Melbourne online portal, the council is currently seeking feedback from locals right across the municipality as to the current and future states of their communities in an effort to inform new neighbourhood plans for each postcode.

“Participate Kensington” is already well advanced with the council having consulted with locals late last year. A set of 26 “draft neighbourhood priorities” are currently available for local feedback by April 19.

Among them are “Wurundjeri Heritage and Culture” and “Supporting Reconciliation”, as well as improving traffic and parking management, active and public transport, and community activation and connection.

Key projects priorities include revitalising Moonee Ponds Creek, more affordable housing, renewable energy investment, increasing neighbourhood greening, and better utilisation and access to community venues.

Now, the council is calling on locals in West Melbourne and North Melbourne to share what their priorities are for the future of their neighbourhoods. The Parkville Gardens community is also being factored in to the “Participate Parkville” process.

Through the online portal, locals can take a survey, connect with their council neighbourhood partners or attend one of the various scheduled “pop-up” sessions and share their thoughts. The neighbourhood plans will go before councillors at a meeting later this year •