By Ewen McRae
A new regional hub being planned for Cobblebank has been described as the largest planned town centre in Melton and one of the largest centres in metropolitan Melbourne.
Melton council has drafted two Urban Design Frameworks (UDFs) which will help guide development within the area over the next 30 to 40 years.
The Cobblebank Metropolitan Activity Centre Draft UDF maps out the future use of a 100-hectare site surrounding the intersection of Ferris Road and the Melbourne-Ballarat railway.
It will include space for retail use, a health precinct around the proposed hospital, a tertiary education site, sports facilities, justice facilities, office use and residential use.
Adjoining the activity centre will be the Cobblebank Employment and Mixed Use Precinct.
A separate draft UDF for the area identifies locations for warehousing, big box retail, light industry and office uses to facilitate local job creation.
Melton mayor Bob Turner said it was an exciting step for the development of Cobblebank into a thriving centre.
“These plans will set the vision for Cobblebank’s future and ensure it develops in an integrated way,” Cr Turner said.
“New growth areas like Cobblebank have the potential to progress rapidly. By developing Urban Design Frameworks we can consider the bigger picture of town centres when making decisions on planning applications.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the Cobblebank town centre evolve into a lively hub of activity that will serve the wider Melton community for years to come.”
The UDFs will provide a vision for the two areas. Planning permit applications will need to align with the UDFs and other relevant planning policy to be approved.
Residents can view the draft plans and leave feedback at melton.vic.gov.au/urbandesignframework until September 3.
Residents and businesses can also learn more and provide feedback at a public drop-in session on August 7, from 4.30-8pm at Western BACE, 222 Ferris Road, Cobblebank.
