The Melton East Precinct Structure Plan (PSP) will be designed with 20 hectares less open space than originally planned for by Melton council, following guidance from the Victorian Building Authority (VPA).
The Melton East PSP is set to become home to approximately 34,000 people and is bounded by Kororoit Creek to the north-east, Western Freeway to the south, Leakes Road to the east and the Melton Highway to the north-west.
A PSP is a land use and infrastructure plan to guide the development of an area over time developed by the Victorian Planning Authority and council.
Council originally planned for the area to have 75 hectares of open space at Melton East, based on its open space strategy guideline of 2.2 hectares of open space per 1000 people.
The VPA uses an area based methodology, reserving 10 per cent of an area for open space, leaving Melton East with 55 hectares.
Council chose to accept the VPAs method for Melton East and all future PSPs at a meeting on July 31.
Council and the VPA have also planned for additional 30 hectares of regional open space.
The 30 hectares of regional active open space will be split into two 15 hectare reserves in the Melton East and Warrensbrook PSPs.
The PSPs are split by Kororoit Creek, however the Warrenbrook PSP is yet to be developed.
Both of the reserves will be provided with car parking, pavilions and infrastructure required for recreation and the spaces should be used entirely for local use which would benefit the community.
All critical infrastructure such as pavilions, netball courts, lighting, car parking and fencing will be located outside of floodplains as part of these changes.
Councillor Kathy Majdlik asked officers if there would be sufficient open space to meet the needs of the local community in this PSP and was told there was.
Councillor Julie Shannon said the decision is the best outcome for the area.
“And the fact that there’s nothing going to be built on any 50 or 100 year flood event plain is a great idea,” she said.The Melton East PSP is expected to be released for community consultation in late 2023.
