Amanda Lewis

Preferred presentation format: Poster

Affiliation(s): Department of Sustainability and Environment – Metropolitan Strategy Team

Title: Amanda Lewis Position: Land Use Planner – Metropolitan Strategy Team Organisation: Department of Sustainability and Environment Contact email: Amanda.lewis@dpi.vic.gov.au Contact phone: 03 9637 8833

Keywords: Green Wedges, urban planning, management plans, methods

Urban planning is a well recognised regulatory tool that influences important land use change decisions. We now have a chance to show how it is a valuable extension tool.

Melbourne 2030 is the strategy outlining the future direction of growth and development in metropolitan Melbourne. An integral part of this strategy is the protection of agricultural areas outside Melbourne from encroaching urban development, using an Urban Growth Boundary and Green Wedge areas. These are designed to safeguard the environmental and agricultural values of the open landscapes surrounding metropolitan Melbourne.

Green wedges will also preserve renewable and non-renewable natural resources, provide sites for infrastructure to support the Melbourne population (e.g. airports and waste water treatment plants), allow industries like sand and stone extraction to operate close to markets and provide opportunities for tourism and recreation

With twelve green wedges identified, this is an important opportunity to push urban planning into the world of extension with the development of Green Wedge Management Plans. Key stakeholders in this process include the community and land owners, Government departments, Victorian Farmers Federation, Catchment Management Authorities, Local Governments, Water Authorities and a range of industries.

The development of these plans is an opportunity for all the stakeholders to design the future for their own local green wedge areas. The success of this process is dependent on the effective use of extension tools and techniques to ensure all the participants are satisfied with the final management plans. The poster will show the methods and achieved and projected outcomes of the project.

Key learning points:

• What Green Wedges are and why are they important in Melbourne’s future development.
• How urban planning can be used as an important and effective extension tool.
• Opportunities for agricultural development and improved natural resource management on the outskirts of Melbourne