MELBOURNE Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said the draft Transport Strategy Update and draft City North and Arden Macaulay structure plans, endorsed by Councillors at this week's Future Melbourne Committee meeting, demonstrated Council's response to the needs of a growing city.

"A growing city needs to be a well connected city and our Transport Strategy Update outlines how we will work with the State Government to provide safe and practical transport options for the people of Melbourne over the next five years and in the long run," the Mayor said.

The draft transport strategy is an update of the City of Melbourne's transport strategy, Moving People and Freight 2006-2020. The update sets new key directions and policy targets which take into account the changes in transport policy and growth in public transport use, cycling and walking since 2006.

The key directions of the transport strategy are:

• Go anywhere, anytime public transport for inner Melbourne;
• Support public transport, walking and cycling as the dominant modes of transport in inner Melbourne;
• Develop high-mobility pedestrian and public transport streets in the Central City;
• Make Melbourne a true cycling city; and
• Foster innovative low-impact freight and delivery in central Melbourne.

Future Melbourne Committee (Planning) Chair, Cr Peter Clarke said that together, the transport strategy and City North and Arden Macaulay structure plans help deliver on the vision for a future first outlined in last year's Draft Municipal Strategic Statement (MSS).

Mr Clarke said the draft structure plans were not just about rezoning land but about building communities.

Arden Macaulay is a 147 hectare precinct between Melbourne's central city and the inner west suburb of Footscray.

"Arden Macaulay's industrial landscape could be transformed into a dense, mixed use inner city suburb with intensified commercial activity and up to 25,000 residents and 30,000 workers by 2040," Cr Clarke said.

The City North area covers approximately 130 hectares and is directly north of the central city.

"City North will continue to grow as a world renowned knowledge precinct with the potential to become a diverse mixed use extension of the central city with the capacity for a resident population of approximately 19,000 and approximately 40,000 workers by 2040," Cr Clarke said.

According to the Council, the draft structure plans propose to:

• Guide regulation of future activities and land uses;
• Coordinate land use development with transport infrastructure;
• Inform planning for new community and recreational facilities and services;
• Guide the regulation of buildings heights, form and densities; and
• Inform planning for the use of existing, new and more sustainable urban infrastructure.

The City of Melbourne is inviting public feedback on the draft City North and Arden Macaulay Structure Plans and the Transport Strategy Update. The consultation period is open until 24 June 2011.

More information about the draft strategies and structure plans are available from the City of Melbourne website at <http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/>.