The missing link between growth area planning and metropolitan governance

Abstract

ABSTRACT In Melbourne, growth area planning is generally influenced by the overarching metropolitan plan, but there is a missing link – an overall metropolitan point of view and approach is lacking. While a planned approach to growth areas is important and is quite sophisticated and well-established in Melbourne, it is also crucial to account for what these plans mean for the overall metropolitan area and what interdependencies exist. Growth areas are places where some of the central challenges of metropolitan development play out and are dealt with. At the same time, their growth also exacerbates some of those challenges. Current metropolitan governance structures in Melbourne lead to growth councils being left alone to some extent in their dealing with the strong population growth. The State Government assists those councils with some programmes, but there is no balance, support or coordination between all metropolitan councils to counterbalance the diverse challenges. A more inclusive and less state-focused metropolitan governance structure can provide some solutions and the opportunity to discuss how we want our metropolitan growth to happen.