By Ethan Benedicto
The Berwick Village Structure Plan is set to be overhauled in the upcoming Tuesday, 20 May, council meeting, with a 15-year vision set for the precinct.
While still a draft looking to be moved during the meeting, the Draft Berwick Village Major Activity Centre Structure Plan looks to replace the previous ‘outdated’ structure plan that was prepared in 2011, providing a framework to manage the growth and development of the village.
There were a total of seven key directions for the new plan, these include preserving the historical charm, fostering business growth and building a vibrant village, improving movement and safety, supporting diverse housing option, elevating design and sense of place, promoting community facilities, and deliver a greener and more climate resilient centre.
The agenda includes the key elements of the preservation and enhancement of the village’s character, highlighting that it is one of the City of Casey’s five established major activity centres that is valued for its historic character.
Preparation for the draft commenced in 2023, with initial planning, stakeholder and community engagement from March to April 2024, as well as the prep for key issues that identify the key challenges and opportunities from technical studies.
The draft structure plan also includes five precincts of focus and includes the village centre, historic and is the retail, hospitality and community activity hub of the village.
There is also the village edge, which was described as a transitional area that supports a mix of uses as well as sensitive integration with surrounding neighbourhoods.
There is then the health and education precinct, which is the strategic employment hub; the neighbourhood green corridor with recreational spaces and a strong landscape character, and the residential growth area that looks to accommodate increased housing diversity and density close to the village centre.
The second stage of community engagement, subject to council endorsement, will begin in June 2025, which will include in-person workshops and targeted stakeholder discussions to review the draft structure plan and provide feedback.
This feedback will then be used to finalise the structure plan for future council endorsement.
This story is developing, and more information will be added once available.
