Plans to transform the Sunshine Health, Wellbeing and Education Precinct are open for public feedback.
A draft plan to guide the area’s development has been prepared by the Victorian Planning Authority in partnership with Brimbank council and state government agencies.
It covers the development of more health and education services in the precinct, along with shops and cafes, short-term accommodation, offices and housing.
It also proposes new land uses in some parts of the precinct to create more jobs in the health, wellbeing and education sectors and to improve local streetscapes and environment.
The precinct covers about 67 hectares in St Albans, centred on the Sunshine Hospital and includes the Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
Brimbank mayor Margaret Giudice said the draft plan showed how the precinct could develop. She said the precinct had the potential to “accommodate” more than 7200 jobs by 2051.
“This will mean a significant change to the intensity and type of land uses and development in the area,” she said. “Having a strategic plan will ensure that we’re responding to existing and surrounding land uses, as well as considering future land uses.
“It is important that future growth of the area takes place in a planned way and is informed by feedback from the local community in
St Albans, and delivers significant improvement to the area.”
Community members are being invited to a drop-in session to ask questions about the draft plan. The session will be held at St Albans Community Centre on Thursday, July 26, from 5.30-8pm.
Once feedback has been received, the planning authority and the council will update the draft plan and prepare planning controls for the council to consider.
If approved, the community and stakeholders will have another opportunity to provide further comment later this year.
Feedback on the draft plan can also be provided online at brimbank.vic.gov.au/have-your-say until July 31.
