Objectives

• To expand employment floor-space, particularly emergent industries, to meet an increased proportion of projected demand and reduce ‘escape expenditure’ and travel to nearby centres.

• To support existing industrial uses whilst facilitating other compatible emergent industries to energise the centre.

• To enable an employment anchor in the Diamond Creek Major Activity Centre, such as a civic or health anchor.

• To develop additional higher density housing in the centre to meet projected needs and increase dwelling type diversity and energise the centre.

• To provide accessible and affordable housing options close to public transport.

• To focus retail activity in a compact core east of the railway, on the ‘landscaped civic spine’ of Main Hurstbridge Road, with a retail node in Chute Street.

• To cluster community and leisure facilities in and around the centre as added attractions for the community, to meet local needs and complement retail and commercial activity.

• To improve access to and integrate retail, commercial and housing development with the railway station and its surrounds.

Strategies

• Support and further develop Diamond Creek’s reputation as a boutique and artisanal food production destination.

• Develop land use provisions that support a diversity of employment opportunities.

• Encourage uses that extend the hours of activity of the activity centre, develop an evening economy and strengthen its function as a place for living and working at the street level.

• Provide the opportunity for a transit-oriented development (TOD) on land to the west of the railway line (Precinct 4) including uses such as commercial and residential.

• Undertake community consultation to review the potential application of C3Z (or a modified ACZ2) in the existing light industrial Precincts 3 and 5 to allow for a diversification of uses from creative industries, small manufactures, start-up businesses to offices, to facilitate business growth and employment opportunities.

• Encourage redevelopment at increased residential densities to provide additional dwellings within walking distance of the town centre.

• Deliver a vertical mix of land uses through facilitating the use of shop tops for office, residential and other commercial uses within the main streets of the Activity Centre.
• Investigate the potential sites for an employment anchor, such as a civic or health facility in the Activity Centre, potentially in Precinct 5.