Chirnside Park is an outer eastern suburb of Melbourne and is part of the gateway to the Yarra Valley and Yarra Ranges. Under Melbourne’s Planning Scheme (M2030) Chirnside Park has been designated as an activity centre.
The urban design master plan follows on from a structure plan prepared by the Shire of Yarra Ranges which looked at the potential to re-zone some large areas of Industrial Land. This land is largely unencumbered and is a large asset and opportunity, presenting the real possibility of achieving the objectives and vision for an activity centre.
A green spine was identified along the highway which runs through the middle of the study area as well as a compact town centre area built around the existing shopping centre. The green spine provides ‘Environmental Branding’ for the Shire as well as a location for a shared path and water sensitive urban design elements.
By establishing 10 key principles, the Shire now has a reference project against which to assess future development proposals.