Blackburn to Mitcham

More homes and more opportunities.

Planning for thriving communities

Blackburn, Nunawading and Mitcham stations are on the Belgrave and Lilydale train lines in one of Melbourne’s leafiest pockets, known for their family-friendly environment, strong multicultural communities and access to parks and trails.

These stations connect residents directly to Melbourne’s centre and other key employment and education hubs. Frequent train services that include five-minute peak services and tram and bus connections nearby offer locals a reliable alternative to cars.

Each train and tram zone activity centre sits within an already established suburban area, rich in amenity — parks, shops, schools, and healthcare services are all within easy reach. These qualities make the neighbourhoods convenient and highly liveable.

What we heard

Council and community feedback in the Blackburn to Mitcham areas focused on protecting tree canopy, green space and broader biodiversity and wildlife. Feedback also focused on ensuring adequate infrastructure capacity to support growth, building heights and protection of neighborhood character.

What we’re proposing

  • Protecting open space and tree canopy cover by excluding areas covered by Significant Heritage Overlays from catchment areas around Blackburn and Mitcham.
  • Adjusting maximum heights in the Blackburn and Nunawading cores, to ensure important locations such as Morton Park in Blackburn still have good access to sunlight.
  • Developing plans based on local conditions to better manage height changes between core and catchment areas, and potential impacts on neighbouring properties.
  • Investment in local infrastructure to support growth, which is essential to the liveability of current and future communities in these areas.

Blackburn to Mitcham train and tram zone activity centres factsheet

Learn more about the proposed building heights, core and catchment boundaries and potential opportunities to improve the Blackburn to Mitcham train and tram zone activity centres.

Download factsheet

Proposed height and boundary map

The map below shows the proposed core and catchment boundaries of the Blackburn to Mitcham train and tram zone activity centres. It also highlights key transport connections, open spaces and heritage overlays.

Map of Blackburn catchment

How your feedback has helped shape our planning

We heard from the Blackburn, Nunawading, and Mitcham communities through two rounds of consultation and a Community Reference Group (CRG) made up of local residents - your feedback has helped shape our planning.

Find out more by clicking on the accordions.

You can also view the Phase 1 consultation summary report for these centres:

Download phase 1 consultation summary report for Blackburn to Mitcham

We'll publish the Phase 2 consultation summary report soon.

  • The community told us that Blackburn’s extensive tree canopy and leafy streets make it special. That’s why, in addition to changes already made to the catchment extent, we’re proposing landscaped setbacks for key streets such as Albert Street, Chapel Street and Railway Road. It’s also why we’re proposing sun access protections for Whitehorse Road, Railway Road and Blackburn Road.
  • We heard how important it is to the community to manage the transition from the core to catchment areas north of Whitehorse Road. That’s why we’re proposing to reduce the heights from 16 storeys to 12 storeys and add master planning requirements.
  • We also heard the call for a reduced scale around South Parade. We’re proposing to reduce the building heights along the street to eight storeys, and to six storeys for the properties to the south. This also creates a gentler graduation in height to the surrounding catchment areas.

  • The community values the pedestrian experience along key streets in Nunawading. That’s why we’re proposing sun access protections for Springvale Road and Whitehorse Road. This will ensure these streets remain great places to be.
  • We’re also proposing to protect sun access to Wood Street, Wood Park and Mount Pleasant Road. This seeks to reduce overshadowing impacts.
  • We’re also proposing to apply primary active frontages to Springvale Road, and secondary active frontages to Station Street and Whitehorse Road. This will support pedestrians through passive surveillance, and improved connections to commercial and retail activity.

  • The community told us they value the existing leafy and landscaped nature strips in Mitcham. That’s why we’re proposing more landscaped setbacks around Mitcham Shopping Centre, along Mitcham Road and at the Whitehorse Road intersection.
  • We heard that the community is more comfortable with greater heights being located closer to the train station. That’s why we’re proposing master planning requirements on larger sites with greater heights. This will balance increased capacity with a suitable transition to surrounding residential areas.

Infrastructure investment

The quality of the places we live in affects all aspects of our lives – how we live and work, connect with others and get around.

There has already been significant investment in the Blackburn to Mitcham areas. We know that there will be greater demand for services and infrastructure like public transport and open spaces as more people move in, with improvements needed to support the growing population.

Our infrastructure contributions plans will require developers to pay a standardised contribution of $11,350 for each new home, or equivalent charge for an office or similar building they deliver, which will be used to invest in improvements to infrastructure and facilities for the local community.

Opportunities to improve Blackburn to Mitcham

The map below shows some of the opportunities to make this community an even better place to live, work and get around in the long-term, as well as the benefits for you.

Map of infrastructure improvements for Blackburn

NOTE: This map indicates potential opportunities for future infrastructure delivery and does not present specific projects.

Traditional Owners

The Blackburn to Mitcham activity centres are located on the lands of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung People, and we acknowledge them as Traditional Owners.

We pay our respects to Elders past and present, whose knowledge and wisdom have ensured the continuation of spiritual and cultural practices.