Riversdale to Willison and Ashburton

More homes and more opportunities.

Planning for thriving communities

Riversdale, Willison and Ashburton stations are on the Alamein train line in the eastern suburbs of Camberwell and Ashburton. The stations connect residents to Melbourne’s education and sporting precincts and the CBD, with the area also well serviced by trams, buses and cycling trails.

Surrounded by quality schools, shopping precincts, recreation, wellbeing and hospitality offerings, both suburbs share a rich history with large heritage homes and open spaces and are among Melbourne’s most desirable postcodes.

Each station sits within an already established suburban area with 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 for Riversdale to Willison and Ashburton highlighted the need to protect local heritage to ensure plans focus on local character and charm.

What we're proposing

  • Protecting local heritage by retaining existing heritage overlays. For Riversdale to Willison, we propose to apply the outer catchment to all precinct heritage overlay areas, such as the Hassett Estate. For Ashburton, we’ve retained existing heritage overlays and have applied outer catchment to large heritage precincts, such as the Great Glen Iris Railway Junction Estate.
  • Investing in local infrastructure to support growth, as well as improvements to local landmarks such as the Anniversary Trail, Riversdale Park, and Ashburton Library and Community Centre.
  • Preserving local character in special locations. For example, we propose to apply primary active frontages to High Street, to ensure that current activity levels are maintained. (Primary active frontages are ground floor of buildings that use features such as large windows, cafes and shops to create lively and safe environments).
  • Encouraging housing diversity and affordability through the planning tools that have been developed for Riversdale to Willison – these will allow for various types of homes to be developed in future, including low-rise apartments, townhouses and single homes.
  • Protecting existing open space and increasing tree canopy cover on Ashburton’s leafy streets and parks. Future developments will also be required to consider and implement greening and canopy cover.

Riversdale to Willison train and tram zone activity centres factsheet

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

Download factsheet

Ashburton tram zone activity centre factsheet

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

Download factsheet

Proposed height and boundary maps

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

- Riversdale to Willison catchment map

- Ashburton catchment map

How your feedback has helped shape our planning

We heard from the Riversdale to Willison and Ashburton 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 below.

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

Download phase 1 consultation summary report for Riversdale to Willison and Ashburton

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

  • In response to community feedback, the size and scale of Riversdale to Willison, and its designation as a ‘neighbourhood centre’ in Plan for Victoria, we are proposing only inner and outer catchment for this area.
  • We also heard how important heritage is to the community. That’s why we’ve proposed only outer catchment where heritage overlays apply to large areas.

  • We heard from the community how much they value the lively atmosphere of High Street and its welcoming environment. This is why we’re proposing to apply primary active frontages along its entirety, helping to ensure Ashburton remains vibrant day and night.
  • We also heard the importance of keeping Ashburton bright and sunlit. The community also told us how much they value large canopy trees and green streets. That’s why we’re proposing a high level of solar protection along High Street. This will ensure buildings will not overshadow the street at key times of the day, and to also allow future trees and native vegetation to thrive.
  • In response to community feedback, the size and scale of Ashburton, and its designation as a ‘neighbourhood centre’ in Plan for Victoria, we are proposing only outer catchment for this activity centre.

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 Riversdale to Willison and Ashburton 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 proposed infrastructure contributions plans intend to 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 for Riversdale to Willison and Ashburton

The maps below show 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.

- Riversdale to Willison opportunities for improvement

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

- Ashburton opportunities for improvement

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

Traditional Owners

The Riversdale to Willison and Ashburton 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.

Learn more

About the program

We’re planning for more homes across Melbourne so more Victorians can access homes in the places they want to live.

How we're planning

Train and tram zone activity centre plans encourage more homes to be built in the places they fit best.

Stage 2: Expansion program

Learn about the 23 train and tram zone activity centres and consultation program for Stage 2 of the Train and Tram Zone Activity Centres Program.