suburban areas

Figure 24 - Accessibility analysis and its related proposal for new urban clusters in suburban areas (Source: Plan Melbourne Addendum, 2019)

Regarding Affordability, the Plan Addendum states that the 20-minute neighbourhood policy is embedded in all its project and policies, thus affordable housing is amended in renewal projects in inner city and CBD areas. Priority is given to elderly housing near the NACs and Student housing near university areas or near NACs nearby. (The State of Victoria Department of Environment, Land, 2019) The plan highlights ‘all of government’, place-based approach and engaged communities and stakeholders as a pre-requisite for delivery of 20-minute neighbourhoods specially for suburban. Victoria State Government Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) is the co-ordinating and lead agency responsible for delivery of the 20-minute neighbourhoods across the metropolitan geography. (The State of Victoria- Department of Environment Land Water and Planning, 2018; Whitzman et al., 2013)

In order to decapitate the liveability in suburban areas which cannot immediately be benefitted from the density, soft measures like temporary activation of urban spaces is prioritised, like temporary road closures, pop-up markets, mobile libraries and streetside parklets. Priority provision of community hubs (multipurpose buildings) shall equip the neighbourhoods for building social cohesion and resilience during the time of calamities. The community hubs along with council buildings and vacant shops are being activated as temporary co-working spaces. Through programs such as NAC Renewal Fund, targeted investments are mobilised to support local businesses including retailers, start-ups, service providers, cafes and restaurants, etc through providing financial support for urban design enhancement and beautification of streets.

Various community engagement tools like surveys, community workshop days and walking tours have been developed to collect ideas and aspirations of communities which are used for identifying priority urban design interventions in the neighbourhoods. Programs like coffee with cop and shop local campaigns are targeted to engage the communities to not only identify local perception of space and help build confidence in safety of neighbourhood, but also increase social cohesion by promoting walking and using local destinations for daily needs. (Emery & Thrift, 2021) A key factor observed in mobilization of neighbourhood transformation is through embedding existing best practice guidelines to aid effectiveness of work across different agencies and departments. (Emery & Thrift, 2021, p. 63)