Whitehorse Activity Centres
​Blackburn, Mitcham and Nunawading “Activity Centres”
Whitehorse Activity Centre Update - 11th February 2026
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Phase 2 draft Activity Centre maps and consultation timetable released by Transport and Planning Department.
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Summary
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CROWAG welcomes removal of all Significant Landscape Overlay and heritage areas from the Activity Centre boundaries. This means key heritage and significant landscape will not be included in the high-density Activity Centre Zone as originally suggested.
Blackburn, Nunawading and Mitcham's Significant Landscape Areas have been saved and are totally EXCISED from the proposed activity centre boundaries.
Very high level of community engagement.
Great work from the community for coming together to make a difference particularly the strong response to the online survey and other consultation interactions. Thanks also go to Whitehorse City Council staff and councillors, particularly the ward representative, Deputy Mayor Cr Kieran Simpson; local State MP, Paul Hamer; and upper house member Richard Welch.
The Consultation Summary provides the following breakdown.
877 Survey Responses
679 Blackburn
62 Nunawading
136 Mitcham
3514 website views for this group of centres.
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This compares with other Activity Centre consultations run at the same time:
On the low side, Springvale to Dandenong, 23 survey responses for 4 stations, and the next closest, Caulfield to Bentleigh, with four stations, 433 responses.
Your feedback is still needed.
There is still some work to do, and we again urge the community to engage with the latest draft maps. Higher density in our village cores will bring new issues relating to traffic, parking, amenity with high rise up to 16 storeys in Blackburn and 12 storeys in Nunawading and Mitcham proposed.
Phase 2 consultation are open to 11.59pm Sunday 22 March 2026.
Link to Activity Centre maps
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Further Consultation. - Link to Phase 2 Consultation details.
Provide feedback on the draft maps by:
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attending an in-person information session
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attending an online information session
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completing the online survey.
Provide feedback on:
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Proposed heights
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Proposed core and catchment boundaries
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Important public spaces
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Interface issues – on residential, street level, parks and reserves
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Amenity impacts - traffic, parking, services, walkability and active transport
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What would make your local train and tram zone activity centre better.​
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Blackburn to Mitcham information sessions.
Online Survey open till 22nd March - a 250 word freeform response can be included. Note your thoughts in a text document then copy and past into the survey.
11 March - 6:30PM - 7:30PM Online via Zoom link -
14 March 12:00PM - 3:00PM – Drop in Session
Whitehorse Civic Centre - Willis Room, 379-399 Whitehorse Road, Nunawading VIC, 3131
17 March 3:00PM - 6:00PM – Drop in Session
The Avenue Uniting Church, 46 Blackburn Road, Blackburn VIC 3130
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​2025 - Activity Centre Proposed Boundaries
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- What it means for You.
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The proposed Activity Centre boundaries (HCTZ - the 800m walkable catchment) fail to recognise existing areas of significant environmental, heritage and cultural values of Blackburn, Nunawading and Mitcham.
We want the SLO 1, 2, 3 and 4 excluded from the Activity Centre HCTZ boundry to ensure the ongoing viability of these special areas.
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Get your submissions in to ensure the community voice is heard.
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See below for Information to assist you make a submission on the proposed changes.
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Getting involved – what can you do:
Phase 1 “Consultation” for Blackburn’s Activity Centre is open until 30th November, 2025.
Strong community feedback is critical to change the proposed Activity Centre boundaries so that tree canopy and heritage protection remains in the Whitehorse Planning Scheme.
Community values need to be emphasised and protected in feedback provided.
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Provide your feedback on the Activity Centres by:
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Attending an in-person information session:
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22 November, Nunawading (3.00 - 5.00pm)
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24 November - 6.30pm - Online Information Session
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27 November – Blackburn (4.30 - 6.30pm)
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Completing the online survey.
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Submit a written submission by 30th November – email: activity.centres@transport.vic.gov.au
Make a donation to support the cause.
Community groups will be mounting an advocacy campaign.
Funding is needed please donate to: https://www.givenow.com.au/retain_our_slos
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Information presented at the ​​​​​2025 Activity Centre Public Forum.
Video recording of speakers.
Introduction.
Jeff Green
Mike Scott
Megan Short
Rob Weiss
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Slides of presentations.
Session 1
Session 2.
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Activity Centres – What does it mean for You?
The State Government has included Blackburn, Nunawading and Mitcham in the 60 new “Activity Centres”. This is a permanent town planning zoning change which allows higher and denser development, and removes your voice to appeal development.
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How might you be affected, and how you can be part of the process of its development? This CROWAG free forum will hopefully provide some answers.
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Planning Minister Sonia Kilkenny has said the new blueprint to guide how Victoria grows, Plan Victoria, would … ‘‘give Victorians ...a say on how we shape our cities, towns, regions and communities for decades to come … that includes housing affordability and choice … liveable and thriving neighbourhoods, and climate action and sustainability.’’
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​The Forum.​
CROWAG hosted a Forum on 9th November where expert planning and design presenters with local community representatives made presentations that help local residents and others with an interest in the three activity centres understand the potential impacts.
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The presentations were interspersed with Q&A sessions to provide the opportunity to better understand the key issues and share ideas on how we as a community can respond to the government’s proposed “Consultation” phase.
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Residents expressed concern about the impacts of proposed Activity Centres including loss of tree canopy and landscape protection, future building heights, impacts on local amenity, greenspace, sustainability and urban heating from increased density, loss of appeal rights increasing poor design outcomes, impacts on infrastructure, and lack of provision for social infrastructure and social housing.
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The Forum Objectives:
To engage Blackburn residents to help them understand the potential impacts that the proposed Victorian Government Activity Centre (AC) re-zoning means for their local area.
To encourage and empower Blackburn residents to make submissions on the proposed Blackburn AC when Phase 1 consultation Which has opened for consultation until 30th November. See Planning website.
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Speakers:
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Jeff Green, Director City Development at Whitehorse City Council.
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Mike Scott – Planning Consultant and Developer at Charter 29.
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Megan Short - Local Ecologist and Chair of the Blackburn Creeklands Committee.
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Rob Weiss - local resident and President of the Bellbird Residents Advocacy Group (BRAG) -
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Links to Useful Reference Information.
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Investigation Area Maps with potential catchment boundaries:
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Victoria’s infrastructure strategy 2025–2055 (11/11/25 highlights social infrastructure need.
On the Activity Centre chopping block - National Trust Heritage area.
Linum Street in Blackburn.