By Callum Ludwig
Yarra Ranges Council announced that its Draft Warburton Urban Design Framework is now ready for broader community review and input at the Tuesday 13 December Council meeting.
The framework is a part of the larger Warburton Place Plan adopted in 2021.
Yarra Ranges Council Mayor and O’Shanassy ward Councillor forwarded the motion and said it is extremely important that Council went through the process of drafting the framework.
“What a journey this has been, the Warburton community outlined their vision and values through an extensive community engagement process during late 2018 and early 2019 which resulted in the Warburton Place Plan. As the community identified the need for the place pla, this framework provides practical design solutions to realise the intent of the design, development and public realm actions within the township,” he said.
“The framework will assist Council decision-making in the areas of development, infrastructure, and programs for Warburton that aligns with the community expectations. With the recent announcement by the Minister of Planning regarding support for the majority of the Warburton Mountain Bike Destination project, it is timely to engage the community around solutions and a future character to support alignment across the projects in the area.”
The framework’s focus lies along the Warburton Highway, the primary access and activity corridor for the Activity Centre, extending from Mayers Bridge in the west to Warburton Water World in the east, including the two commercial centres and Warburton Recreation Reserve. It also includes the north bank of the Yarra River/Birrarung and will look to enhance Dammans Road and the various pockets of open space along its length, while proposing a new southern connecting road south of the Water Wheel building.
Chandler Ward Councillor David Eastham seconded the motion and said he wanted to emphasise Cr Child’s mention of the alignment of the town.
“There’s been a lot of conversation around potential additions at Warby while still retaining the character and so on. This recommendation that we’ve got in front of us tonight will ensure that the community’s wants, desires needs are documented and that we can future-proof and plan the decades ahead for a very important part of our municipality,” he said.
The largest aspect of the projects included in the framework is the Warburton Recreation Reserve Revitalisation at an estimated cost of $21,008,880, making up over half of the total $41,543,392 projected costs.
The revitalisation would include the relocation of tennis courts, new tennis courts, new netball courts, new cricket nets, a new pavilion, investigation of pedestrian paths, car parking, accessibility, public toilets, relocation of the skate park, furniture, hard and soft landscaping, and road access.
The full suite of projects would be delivered over the next 10 to 15 years dependent on funding.
