The state government has moved the focus of its campaign for more housing availability to the inner suburbs, places where many of the new residents will choose bikes as their transport preference.
The Train and Tram Zone Activity Centre planning reforms have until now been centred around public transport nodes in low-density suburbs.
Now inner Melbourne, which already is more dense with people, and therefore dense with people on bikes, will see development facilitated along train and rail corridors.
It is something of a paradox — a welcome one — that precincts planned for density near public transport will actually generate a large uptick in bike riding.
We know that in settlements where the things humans need for living are close together, they walk and ride much more, and drive motor vehicles much less frequently.
And with good public transport, cars becomes redundant and car ownership is a nuisance more than a benefit.
Inner Melbourne already has a relatively dense network of bike routes, although more are planned and others are being constructed currently.
In the future, with significant increases in population in the cities of Melbourne and Yarra, bike numbers will boom and the requirement for high-capacity bike routes in these localities will be critical.
Any of the inner city councils that are antagonistic to the provision of bike infrastructure on their streets will end up with egg on their face if they don’t respond to these changes.
The state government has invited the community to contribute and comment on the draft plans.
The first four locations being planned for in inner Melbourne are:
- Macaulay, along the Upfield line in North Melbourne and Kensington
- Fitzroy and Collingwood, including Brunswick Street, Gertrude Street, Smith Street and Victoria Parade
- Richmond, along Bridge Road and Victoria Street
- Alphington, along Heidelberg Road.
The City of Melbourne and City of Yarra have already developed draft plans for these locations, with proposed new building heights and design controls.
The state says its reforms will be based on the work of the councils and will help get more homes built faster.
The consultation provides an opportunity for people to identify areas to protect or improve, or that are great for more new homes in inner Melbourne.
You can use the map to make comments and take a survey. The consultation ends on 14 June 2026.
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