Content components Updated August 2026The Victorian Government’s expanded Activity Centre Program includes 50 centres across Melbourne to fit in 300,000 more homes around train stations and tram stops on ‘well-serviced’ lines.On 22 July 2026, the Victorian Government introduced new planning controls for the Ashburton and Riversdale-Willison activity centres and their surrounding residential areas (via Amendment GC285).The new planning controls include:Built Form Overlay (BFO) introducing built form and height controls for the commercial core of the centres. This includes a streamlined deemed-to-comply planning application process that removes third-party notice and review rights if specific standards are met. Otherwise, the standard planning processes will apply.Housing Choice and Transport Zone (HCTZ) applying to the residential catchment around the centres. This new zone allows for the following building heights:LandSites smaller than 1000m3Sites larger than 1000m3 and 20m frontage (min)Zone 113.5m or 4 storeys high21.5m or 6 storeys highZone 211m or 3 storeys high13.5m or 4 storeys high Amendment GC285 also:Rezones two parcels of land in Ashburton from the Neighbourhood Residential Zone (NRZ) to the Commercial 1 Zone (C1Z). Deletes Design and Development Overlay Schedule 16 (DDO16) from the Ashburton activity centre core. Makes changes to local policies in the Boroondara Planning Scheme.Includes the Ashburton Train and Tram Activity Centre Plan and the Riversdale-Willison Activity Centre Plan as background documents in the Boroondara Planning Scheme. For more information about the new planning controls and Amendment GC285, visit the Department of Transport and Planning website: Riversdale to Willison and Ashburton. Council officers presented a report to the Urban Planning Delegated Committee (UPDC) on 17 August 2026. The report showed how the gazetted controls and Activity Centre Plans are similar to, and different from, the recommendations in Council’s advocacy and discussion paper.Read the officer’s report:Victorian Government Activity Centres Program - Gazettal of planning controls for Ashburton and Riversdale-Willison Activity Centres (Amendment GC285) (17 August 2026).Council provided submissions to the Victorian Government as part of the consultation phases for Stage 2 of the expanded Activity Centres Program. You can read them below: Download Council's phase 1 submission 4.4 Activity Centres Program Council Submission Phase 1 Tranche 2 at Ashburton and Willison Riversdale 1.84 MB [PDF] 21 November 2025 Victorian Government Activity Centre Program - Phase 2 consultation Ashburton, Riversdale-Willison Council submission 18.99 MB [PDF] 27 August 2026 Council has prepared its own analysis of these centres using a place-based approach. The point-in-time analysis for Ashburton and Riversdale-Willison was presented to the Urban Planning Delegated Committee at its meeting on 23 March 2026, and can be found in the Phase 2 submission above. A copy of Council’s analysis was also provided to the Department of Transport and Planning in support of its submission. More informationFind more information on Council’s response to the Victorian Government’s reforms:Mayor expresses concern on new Activity Centres (28 February 2025)
