By Matthew Sims
Maribyrnong council is calling for public consultation on new proposed guidelines on townhouse developments.
The draft Medium Density Design Guide outlines 45 guidelines for lots with two or more dwellings, including dual occupancy, terrace, courtyard and village configurations.
The guidelines aim to maximise green open space, improve natural light and ventilation and provide safe and attractive streetscapes.
About 70 per cent of all development applications received by Maribyrnong council are townhouse-style developments.
Maribyrnong mayor Sarah Carter said ensuring high-quality design will be the key to creating more resilient and liveable neighbourhoods to accommodate the growing population of Maribyrnong.
“Villa style infill housing, with three or more units squeezed onto a single suburban block has proliferated – often with little concern for neighbours, and so tightly packed it has changed entire streets and suburbs,” she said.
“Given this, and the volume of townhouse applications we are seeing, it is imperative we address design quality and raise the bar to achieve better homes, streets and neighbourhoods for our community.
“We’re not just talking aesthetics, but how things work and how future developments interact with the environment.
To accommodate the forecast population growth to 134,000 by 2051, about 1000 new homes will need to built each year on average.
Cr Carter said the future of medium density development is an important conversation for everyone living in Maribyrnong.
“It will set up a shared vision for how we are going to address our need for more homes and embrace our growing population,” she said.
“It will define the kind of homes we want to live in and the neighbourhoods we want to be part of.”
The guide outlines the council’s aim to improve the standard of design of developers working in Maribyrnong and clarifies expectations around the significance of sustainable design.
Public consultation closes at 5pm on Sunday, December 18.
Details: yourcityyourvoice.com.au/medium-density-guidelines
