Boronia Renewal Project

The Victorian Government released its metropolitan planning strategy Plan Melbourne 2017-2050 in 2017. It guides the growth of Metropolitan Melbourne to a horizon of 2050 by setting the strategy in relation to jobs, housing, transport, amenity and sustainability. Boronia is identified in Plan Melbourne as a Major Activity Centre. As such it is expected to provide a suburban focal point for services, employment, housing, public transport and social interaction.

The Boronia Renewal Project is Knox City Council’s initiative to review and address a number of existing and emerging issues that impact on Council’s service and infrastructure delivery in Boronia. The project intends to address Boronia’s key social and economic issues, coordinate the planning and design phases for Council’s infrastructure and service delivery in Boronia, and set out strategic planning strategies and built form controls for future land use in the Boronia Major Activity Centre.

A key component of the Boronia Renewal Project is the development of the Boronia Renewal Strategy 2019-2040, which provides a strategic vision for the future growth of the Centre over the next 20 years.

The draft Strategy was endorsed by Council at the 26 August 2019 Council Meeting for public exhibition as part of the amendment process. It sets out a strategic response to anticipated population growth within the Boronia Major Activity Centre around the following five themes:

Each theme contains an overview of the issues relating to the Centre, opportunities available in the Centre, preferred future outcomes, and a number of objectives, strategies and actions to achieve these objectives.

More detailed actions are contained in six Precinct Plans to help achieve the vision and integrate the themes:

Further details are available in the endorsed strategy, available in the File Downloads section below. The draft Strategy is subject to further changes during the amendment process in response to feedback from the community and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning.

The proposed amendment C178knox seeks to implement the objectives and strategies of the draft Boronia Renewal Strategy 2019 into the Knox Planning Scheme through the application of local planning policies, zones and overlays.

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Boronia Structure Plan 2006

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A Key Directions Report was presented and adopted by Council at the 23 April 2018 Council Meeting. The key directions informed the topics and objectives of the draft Boronia Renewal Strategy.

The Key Directions and Visions were presented for public consultation throughout November 2018.

The Boronia Renewal Strategy Community Engagement Report was endorsed by Council at the 16 December 2019 Council Meeting. The Community Engagement Report comprises the summary of all consultation for the Boronia Renewal Project. Information gathered during these consultations informed the draft Boronia Renewal Strategy.

257 Dorset Rd, Boronia

The Council owned site is currently vacant following the demolition of the former Boronia Youth Hall.

The long-term use of the site has not yet been determined, but in the meantime, the site is available to the public as a temporary open space.

Council has engaged with the local community to gain input on how the space can be utilised.

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Lupton Way

Following feedback received during the Boronia Renewal project, Council has been investigating ways we can improve the accessibility of Lupton Way so that the space is more inviting and pedestrian friendly.

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Boronia Retail Precinct Crime Prevention Project

Funded by the Public Safety Infrastructure Fund 2017-2018 under the Community Crime Prevention Program within the Victorian Department of Justice and Community Safety, this project resulted in the purchase and installation of an upgraded CCTV system in Boronia. The CCTV system aims to deter crime, reduce graffiti and anti-social behaviour and improve the communities’ perception of safety.

The project was delivered in 2019.

Delivering a Safer and more Secure Boronia

Council was successful in obtaining Federal Government Safer Communities Fund Grant in 2018.

Council officers conducted a community safety audit in the area between Tormore Avenue and the Boronia Train Station together with Victoria Police and the members of the community in 2018. The aim of this audit was to identify and record areas that could be improved by the installation of lighting and other potential solutions.

The project resulted in the installation of solar lighting and bollards, in particular along Orchid Ave and Tormore Reserve and the western side of the train station in 2019.

Big Move Project: Boronia Train Station Precinct Redevelopment Concept

Following feedback received during the Boronia Renewal Project, the draft Boronia Renewal Strategy 2019 identified the Train Station Precinct Redevelopment as a crucial ‘Big Move Project’ to assist in delivering the vision of the Strategy. The feedback also identified the need for improvements and potential renewal of public assets within the Train Station Precinct.

Council was successful in obtaining funding under the Streamlining for Growth fund, managed by the Victorian Planning Authority in 2019 to prepare a Concept Plan for to the Boronia Train Station Precinct.

Commuter Car Park, Boronia

The Federal Government announced funding for Boronia in 2019 under the Urban Congestion Fund for the purpose to increase the capacity of the park and ride facilities in Boronia.

The feasibility and delivery of this project is managed by the Victorian Level Crossing Removal Project under the Commuter Car Park Program.

Council continues to engage with the relevant authorities to liaise and provide feedback on the project.

Suburban Revitalisation Fund

The Victorian Government announced funding support for Boronia in July 2020 managed by the Office of Suburban Development for the purpose of co-investing in revitalisation works and upgrades in Boronia.

Council continues to engage with the Office of Suburban Development to identify projects and works to benefit from grants for Boronia.

Activity Centre and urban renewal

Urban renewal involves regenerating an existing area and unlocking under-utilised areas for jobs, investment, and housing. It can often involve rezoning land, improving an area’s amenity, redevelopment and identifying transport and infrastructure needs.

A Renewal Strategy provides guiding principles, a vision, and desired outcomes for an area that relies on the existing assets of a place and rectifies key issues. It aims at invigorate an area by alleviating problems and move towards the future.

Previous Council meetings:

If you have any questions in relation to this project, please call 9298 8000 or email boroniarenewal@knox.vic.gov.au

The documents below are subject to further changes through the planning scheme amendment process (Amendment C178knox)

Draft Boronia Renewal Strategy 2019
Boronia Renewal Strategy Community Engagement Report – Adopted 16 December 2019

Appendices to the Community Engagement Report - 16 December 2019: