Current Issues

Racecourse Road

Racecourse Road as a Major Activity Centre

Racecourse Road is the main commercial precinct in Flemington.  It is the boundary between the Cities of Melbourne and Moonee Valley.  Under Melborne 2030, it is also a Major Activity Centre/Area.  Activity Areas are the focus of major urban change over the next 30 years.  As a Major Activity Area, Racecourse Road is expected to accommodate ongoing investment and change in retail, office, service and residential markets.

The Association’s position is that Racecourse Road should be a Neighbourhood Activity Area.  As the boundary of two municipalities, it is not appropriate for Racecourse Road to be developed as a Major Activity Area by two different councils.

The Association has advocated for a review of the municipal boundary.

The Association has also advocated for a review of Racecourse Road as a Major Activity ArRacecourse Road Structure Plan

The Association is a member of the working group for the Racecourse Road Structure Plan, which is being developed by the Moonee Valley City Council.

A structure plan maps out a long-term direction for how an activity area will grow and develop.  They are used in assessing planning permit applications for new developments, as well as improvements to roads, footpaths, community facilities and open space.  Structure plans guide the development of policies and changes to Moonee Valley planning strategies and policies.  More information about structure plans is available on Council’s website.

The Association accepts that growth will occur in Racecourse Road.  However, the Association considers that such growth should enhance, and not detract, from those parts that make Racecourse Road a great place to shop, work and play.  These features include the pedestrian scale of the area; the commercial hub between the railway line and Quiet Man Pub; and the use of Racecourse Road predominantly as a neighbourhood shopping strip servicing local residents.

The Association has made the following submissions about the Racecourse Road Structure Plan.

Comments on Racecourse Road Structure Plan

Further comments on Racecourse Road Structure Plan (January 2012)

 

Arden McAuley Structure Plan

Racecourse Road is the subject of not one, but two, structure plans.  This is because Racecourse Road falls within the jurisdiction of not one, but two, councils: City of Melbourne (parts of the south of Racecourse Road) and City of Moonee Valley (the north of Racecourse Road).  This is because Racecourse Road is the boundary between the City of Melbourne and the City of Moonee Valley.  It is also an Major Activity Centre under Melbourne 2030 (see above).

It is untenable that an activity centre like Racecourse Road is subject to the visions of two different councils.  Although both are developing structure plans for the area, neither structure plan reflects the other structure plan.  The height limits and proposed uses are also very different.

The City of Melbourne’s Arden-Macaulay Structure Plan proposes heights of 10 storeys for Racecourse Road.

The Association has made the following submissions about the Arden-Macaulay Structure Plan.

Submission on Arden Macaulay Structure Plan (January 2012)

 

 

East-West Tunnel

In 2008, the Eddington Review recommended a number of road and public transport projects to improve connections between the eastern and western suburbs of Melbourne.  One of the proposed projects was a tunnel connecting the Eastern Freeway and Citylink.  The proposal would involve widening Citylink over the Moonee Ponds Creek to accommodate the new junction of Citylink and the tunnel.  It was proposed that public parkland, including JJ Holland Park and Debney’s Park, could be used during the construction of the tunnel, which could take up to 5-10 years.  The original proposal had no off-ramps between the Eastern Freeway and Citylink, meaning that any traffic trying to get to the city would exit at Flemington.

The Association provided a detailed submission opposing the East-West Tunnel and commenting on other projects proposed by the Eddington Review.

Flemington Association Submission on the Eddington Report

The Bracks/Brumby Government decided not to proceed with the East-West Tunnel due to a lack of federal funding, which in turn was attributable to the poor cost-benefit analysis (in summary, the costs of the road would outweigh the benefits). The Government instead decided to pursue the Western Link road through Footscray.

In late 2010, the Baillieu Government decided to revisit the East-West Tunnel.  It has applied to Infrastructure Australia for funding to plan the East-West Tunnel.  Infrastructure Australia will make recommendations to the Federal Government about the State Government’s application in February 2012.  The Association has made a Submission to Infrastructure Australia.  The Association encourages residents to email Infrastructure Australia to share your views about the tunnel and whether it should be funded.

It has been suggested that the road could be built more cheaply if parts of it are above ground.  This could potentially mean fly-overs over Royal Park.  Whichever way the road is built, it would all exit at Flemington, meaning more traffic, pollution and noise in our community.

More information about the East-West Tunnel is available at the following websites.

Member for Melbourne Adam Bandt’s campaign page

Member for Melbourne Adam Bandt’s flyer

Yarra Campaign for Action on Transport campaign page

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parking

Moonee Valley City Council is developing parking and traffic strategies for Flemington Hill and the Flemington Racecourse area.  Questionnaires  have been delivered to residents in Flemington Hill and surrounding the Racecourse.

Information regarding traffic counts in Flemington Hill are available on Council’s website. The full Traffix Group report is available here.

Traffix Report

The Racecourse/Showground Event Precinct questionnaire is due on 27 February 2012.  The Flemington Hill questionnaire is due on 5 March 2012.

 

Cycling and walking

Moonee Valley City Council is developing a Walking and Cycling Strategy.  The proposed actions are outlined at pages 51-105.

The Association attended the workshops held to discuss the strategy and made a submission.

Response to MVCC cycling and walking strategy March 2012

In other cycling news, Bicycle Victoria has published a report of a survey held in 2010 regarding cycling in Moonee Valley.

Bikescope Report on Cycling in Moonee Valley