Q. What is the Coburg Initiative Concept Plan?
The Concept Plan includes ideas and opportunities that were identified by the community, stakeholders and the project team during the Coburg Initiative Design Workshop.
Q. How will our feedback on the Concept Plan be used?
All feedback on the Concept Plan will be used to inform the Coburg Initiative Place Framework Strategy which will be released in late 2010 for further community and stakeholder feedback.
Q. Why do we need the Coburg Initiative?
Coburg sits at one of Melbourne’s principal inner city crossroads – Bell Street and Sydney Road – and is one of Melbourne’s most congested road and rail intersections. The civic heart of Coburg is fragmented and in need of major renewal to properly serve the needs of current and future residential and business communities.
Q. Why is the Coburg Initiative different to the Central Coburg 2020 Structure Plan?
The Coburg Initiative is the Central Coburg 2020 Structure Plan’s implementation plan - the project which will bring the Structure Plan to life, implanting its vision and objectives.
Coburg 2020 is still in place. It is a structure plan developed to support the State Government's Melbourne 2030 policy and assist Moreland City Council to achieve the vision for Central Coburg by the year 2020.
The Structure Plan provides a long-term plan to enable consistent consideration of planning proposals and to guide major decisions around urban renewal.
Q. What is Melbourne 2030?
Central Coburg has been named as a Principal Activity Centre under the Victorian State Government's strategic plan ‘Melbourne 2030: Planning for Sustainable Growth’. Melbourne 2030 has been designed to manage sustainable growth and change across metropolitan Melbourne and the surrounding region.
Q. What sort of people and businesses are you looking to attract to Coburg?
The Coburg Initiative is focused on building on the existing strengths and diversity of its communities, which encompass many socio-economic, language and cultural groups, who have co-existed for many decades. While we want to encourage new people to the area we are determined that Coburg’s ‘Sense of Place’ be preserved.
Q. Approximately how long will the Coburg Initiative take?
During 2010 and 2011 the planning framework for the Coburg Initiative will be prepared in close consultation with the stakeholders and community members. Over the next decade, leading up to 2020, the Coburg Initiative will be implemented in order to deliver the Central Coburg 2020 Vision.
Q. Will the Coburg Initiative change the cultural diversity of Coburg?
One of the key objectives of the Coburg Initiative is to preserve, celebrate and expand on the cultural diversity of Coburg. To ensure the diversity is considered in all aspects of the project, the Coburg Initiative team will work alongside the many groups and organisations that represent Coburg’s diversity.
Q. How much will the Coburg Initiative cost and who will pay for it?
The Coburg Initiative is a partnership between existing commercial and residential landowners, Moreland Council, the Victorian Government and Equiset. The project brings together the capital assets and investment potential of all partners.
The estimated redevelopment potential of the Coburg Initiative is $1 billion. For every dollar spent on the project will be retained in the city, generating income for local people and attracting extra investment.
Q. What are the environmental considerations of the Coburg Initiative?
The Coburg Initiative will create a more compact, liveable and sustainable city, with new dwellings located close to public transport, local jobs and shopping choice. Moreland communities are already actively engaged in reducing their environmental footprint through the Solar Cities program and other Council initiatives.
The Moreland Solar Cities project creates an exciting partnership between Council, the Federal Government and the Moreland Energy Foundation (MEFL) to enable change in how people build and renovate, the products available to run their systems and the sustainability they are able to achieve in existing homes and businesses.
Q. Why did Council choose to partner with Equiset?
Moreland City Council has embarked on a strategic partnering arrangement with Equiset to deliver the Coburg Initiative. The strategic partner was selected after a rigorous public process inviting development companies to work co-operatively with Council to rejuvenate central Coburg.
The Moreland City Council looked for a team that:
• Understood the Moreland community
• Shared our vision for a revitalised Central Coburg
• Had a proven record of achievements in urban renewal projects
• Can assist Council deliver community value
Equiset has been responsible for many of Australia’s most prominent recent developments. Further information on Equiset can be found on their website www.equiset.com.au
Q. Where can I get more information?
For more information about the Coburg Initiative please telephone 03 9240 2380, email info@thecoburginitiative.com.au or click on Contact us.
