Have your say on Drouin Township Plan

Have your say on Drouin Township Plan

Published on 27 April 2020

The draft Drouin Township Plan has been prepared and feedback is being sought to ensure it aligns with community views and expectations.

A draft plan has been prepared based on initial community feedback, ideas and aspirations sought in October/November last year. Input has also been sought from Regional Roads Victoria (VicRoads), Melbourne Water, Gippsland Water, Department of Transport and community groups including the Friends of Drouin’s Trees, Committee for Drouin and the Drouin Business Group.

Since then, all feedback submissions have been considered and used to shape the draft plan being presented now for further feedback.

There are four central themes that shape the draft plan:

Activities and land use: A thriving town centre with a broad mix of uses. Drouin will become a centre with strong retail and commercial focus, befitting of a regional service town and employment centre, complete with a range of housing options. Built form: New urban character that respects the past. Density and an increase in acceptable heights will be encouraged throughout the town centre. New built form will be contemporary and site responsive, but the historic fine grain of the town centre will remain. Open space and public realm: Beautiful parks, plazas, tree-lined streets and bustling laneways. Movement and transport: A well connected and multi-modal town with a compact town centre that supports all modes of transportation – train, bus, walking, cycling and car travel.

Once developed, the Drouin Township Plan 2020-2036 will provide an updated strategic approach to projects and initiatives for Drouin over the coming years, reflecting the needs and aspirations of the community. The plan will influence future policy and help inform long-term planning and budgeting for projects in and around Drouin.

The plan will supersede the existing Drouin Town Centre Strategy 2010.

Have your say

Community members are invited to review the full draft plan and provide feedback using a short online or hard copy survey available at www.bawbawshire.vic.gov.au/HaveYourSay

This consultation opportunity is now open for six weeks until Monday 8 June 2020.

Following the consultation period, Council Officers will consolidate comments and feedback and consider all submissions to assist in making further recommendations to Council. The final plan will be presented to Council for formal adoption at a future meeting.

This project is a key initiative of the of the Council Plan 2017-2021.

Quotes attributable to West Ward Cr Jessica O’Donnell

“At the heart of this plan is the desire to proactively lead Drouin into the next decade and ensure the vibrancy, buildings, open spaces and transport requirements are well planned for the future. We encourage everyone to review the draft plan and have your say.”

Quotes attributable to West Ward Cr Keith Cook

“This plan will provide Council and community with practical and actionable strategies to be able to better accommodate growth, while not losing the much-loved character and amenity of Drouin.”

Quotes attributable to West Ward Cr Tricia Jones

“We strongly encourage local residents, visitors, business owners and community groups to have a good look over the draft plan and provide feedback. The more feedback we receive, the better we can understand community sentiments and work together to plan for the future of Drouin.”