The Cities of Melbourne, Port Phillip, Stonnington and Yarra, in association with VicUrban, have developed an action plan to strengthen the liveability, attraction and prosperity of inner Melbourne.

The Inner Melbourne Action Plan (IMAP) aims to make Melbourne more liveable within the next 5 to 10 years by implementing a series of strategies and actions including:

  • Linking and improving transport routes
  • Minimising traffic congestion and increasing public transport use
  • Supporting planned residential growth and housing choice
  • Developing distinct activity centres
  • Business investment and tourism
  • Linking regional open space

IMAP has been developed to respond to and implement key directions and initiatives of the State Government’s Melbourne 2030 planning blueprint to ensure the region’s future liveability and economic prosperity.

Implementing IMAP will involve ongoing regional collaboration, commitment through capital works and infrastructure programs, changes to municipal planning scheme policies and controls and partnerships with other levels of Government.

A number of key actions have already commenced including the development of a Regional Statement of Significance, introduction of consistent pedestrian orientated signage systems across the region, the identification of new funding sources to deliver affordable housing, initiatives to manage conflicts between the mix of users in Activity Centres and a strategy to achieve water sensitive design.

Cr Gary Singer Deputy Lord Mayor of the City of Melbourne said the IMAP initiatives would strengthen Melbourne’s appeal as a tourist destination.

"The Commonwealth Games has given Melbourne’s image an enormous boost and the challenge now is to capitalise on the city’s larger profile. We also need to continue to encourage visitors to have a total Melbourne experience by going beyond the CBD - shopping in Chapel St, coffees in Brunswick St or watching the sun go down over a beer at the Esplanade," Cr Singer said.

Cr Singer said there were also clear benefits for Melbourne’s business sector through providing a coordinated approach to business development over the whole inner Melbourne region. The plan also offers great potential to improve Melbourne’s port facilities by integrating transport routes through inner Melbourne and by lobbying other tiers of Government to improve rail and road freight links," he said.

Port Phillip Mayor Janet Bolitho said that transport was Melbourne 2030’s weakest link. "Inner Melbourne is to provide 90,000 new homes for at least double that number of people. That’s around 180,000 extra cars. Already, our streets are choking with congestion. Our lungs aren’t far behind.

"If inner Melbourne is to remain liveable - and cope with greater population density - it’s imperative that we increase public transport use, make walking and cycling easier and limit the effects of traffic. Priorities include an improved bicycle network and rolling out consistent signage which provides pedestrians with indicative walking times and public transport information.

"On the drawing board is a new path through Port Phillip via the proposed convention centre into the city. We’re also campaigning for 270 metres of additional tram track to link Park Street with St Kilda Road and South Melbourne with South Yarra. All councils have adopted an agreed regional approach to parking management which will limit commuter spaces in new developments and charge for parking in heavily trafficked areas."

City of Stonnington Mayor, Cr Anne O’Shea said, "Home to a number of key Activity Centres, including Chapel Street, the City of Stonnington faces a range of challenges including the mixed use of these precincts by traders, residents, visitors and tourists.

"To ensure that we can continue to meet the diverse and high expectations of its many stakeholders, IMAP provides initiatives that Council can use to manage conflicts in and around Activity Centres. The City of Stonnington, working together with partner Councils and the Inner City Entertainment Precinct Taskforce (ICEPT), has already commenced actions to improve coordination between liquor licensing and planning objectives, policies and enforcement protocols.

"To celebrate the unique and concentrated 19th century heritage of the Inner Melbourne Region a Statement of Significance documenting the structure, character, and significance of inner Melbourne is currently being prepared. It will inform and guide local policy and design," said Cr O’Shea.

Mayor of Yarra City Council, Cr Jackie Fristacky, said IMAP had an important focus on revitalising and improving open space across the region.

"One of the key strategies of IMAP is to complete the open space network by identifying and creating access to open space corridors, particularly along the Yarra River," she said.

"Several inner city councils have combined to protect the river corridor through integrated planning controls. The IMAP Forum provides an enhanced mechanism for supporting this work.

"This important document also outlines ways the member councils can work together to meet common environmental targets across the region, including reducing overall greenhouse emission, and developing common strategies to save water."

IMAP can be viewed on the member Council websites: