There are two stages for the Train and Tram Zone Activity Centre Program, with 25 centres in Stage 1 and 23 centres in Stage 2.
Plans for Stage 1 centres have been finalised and approved by the Minister for Planning, which means the planning changes are now in place. The Stage 1 centres are:
We've now finalised plans for centres in Stage 1. We could not have done this without valuable input from community, councils and stakeholders.
Feedback has been critical in shaping the plans, with community views and insights directly influencing how the plans respond to local priorities and conditions.
Together, this has helped us develop the best possible plans to guide growth and support communities as they evolve over the coming decades.
Consultation for Stage 1 train and tram zone activity centres commenced in May 2025 with:
We consulted in two distinct phases, giving an opportunity for community members and stakeholder groups to understand the program and provide feedback. The objectives of our consultation were to:
Phase 1 community consultation ran from 6 May to 15 June 2025.
We met with local communities to find out:
Key activities included:
Feedback from these activities helped us to develop draft maps for each activity centre.
Community Reference Groups (CRGs) were brought together for each group of activity centres following Phase 1 consultation, and finished in late June 2025.
There were up to 50 people in each group, representing a diverse range of views and perspectives. The groups reviewed community feedback and developed Statements of Advice for our planning team.
The statements helped support drafting of our draft maps, together with the planners’ consideration of existing council strategic work, site visits, technical studies and urban design testing.
Phase 2 community consultation ran from 10 September to 19 October 2025.
Feedback from Phase 1 community consultation, community reference groups, plus consultation with other key stakeholder groups, helped us develop draft maps for each centre.
Phase 2 consultation activities included an online survey (translated into priority languages), online Q&A sessions, walk-bys, drop-ins, and structured meetings with councils, Traditional Owner groups, state agencies and industry representatives.
Consultation was supported by a comprehensive plan to make sure as many people as possible knew about our work. This included direct mail, digital and out-of-home advertising, multicultural outreach, and targeted briefings. This was a chance for the community to have their say before we started work to finalise our plans.
Plans for Stage 1 train and tram zone activity centres are now finalised and approved by the Minister for Planning.
Consultation with different stakeholder groups and communities has been instrumental in shaping our planning, including planning controls, for each of the 25 train and tram zone activity centres in Stage 1.
Consultation with Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation and Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation informed the preparation of Cultural Values Statements, which will be embedded in the final activity centre plans. These statements elevate understanding of Aboriginal cultural heritage and signal the ongoing significance of place.
We regularly consulted with councils, seeking their input on key planning collateral, including draft maps, reviewing their existing planning strategies, and drawing on their extensive knowledge of their local train and tram zone activity centres and their communities.
We have also worked closely with relevant state government departments and agencies to align planning, transport, infrastructure, and service delivery objectives.
Q&A - questions and answers
Drop-in sessions
Across all 25 centres, consistent feedback and themes were captured from community, council, Traditional Owners, industry and major landowners.
Infrastructure Contribution Plans are being proposed for these centres and will support investment in infrastructure essential to the liveability of the current and future communities of each centre.
Planning controls now include items relating to canopy cover. Specific areas with significant landscapes are excluded from the program’s controls.
The planning tools ensure the character of special local places is preserved. Core and catchment boundaries have been amended to reflect local conditions and walking distances from train stations and tram stops.
In addition to retaining existing Heritage Overlays, we’re introducing lower heights in large heritage precincts in the catchments and have not specified heights on Victoria Heritage Register sites.
Core building heights have been adjusted where relevant, in response to feedback, to ensure sun protections for important locations.
The Built Form Overlay and Housing Choice and Transport Zone support site consolidation by allowing for greater development capacity on larger sites.
