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Planning Matters: A DTP Briefing Series | Train and Tram Zones Activity Centres Program Update

Planning Matters: A DTP Briefing Series brings together Department of Transport and Planning speakers with expertise across planning and building initiatives, providing a practical platform to inform, educate and support the planning profession. Each session will deliver timely updates on reforms and implementation activity, explain what changes mean in practice, and provide a Q&A moderated by a PIA VIC Committee Member to help planners apply guidance confidently in their day-to-day work.

This briefing will provide an update on the Train and Tram Zones Activity Centres Program.

With finalisation of the Stage 2 Activity Centres Plans due in mid 2026, the DTP presenters will provide:

A status update on the Program
An overview of strategic planning and urban design work informing the planning controls
An overview of the Built Form Overlay and Housing Choice and Transport Zone and how they are tailored to place
Discussion on next steps for the Program

Speakers

Martina Johnson is has been Director, Activity Centres Planning in the Activity Centres Program at DTP since the inception of the program in late 2023. Her team prepares the Activity Centre Plans and planning scheme amendments, working closely with colleagues who lead policy development, community and stakeholder engagement, infrastructure contributions and governance/ program management aspects.

Morris Edwards is a Strategic Planning Manager at DTP. Morris joined the Activity Centres Program (ACP) at the beginning of 2024 and leads a team of planners preparing Activity Centre Plans for named centres. His experience in drafting planning scheme amendments and ordinance provided for collaboration across the Department in the development of the suite of controls used in the program.

Leila Farahani is is an urbanist, strategic planner and researcher with over a decade of experience across state government, local government and academia. She is currently Senior Strategic Planner at the Department of Transport and Planning, where she leads the development of built form standards and planning tools across Victoria's activity centres.

Facilitators

Patrick Fensham MPIA (Fellow), President, Planning Institute of Australia (VIC), Principal & Partner / National Lead Urban Policy & Governance SGS Economics and Planning

Patrick works to address social disadvantage and find solutions and innovations to policy challenges and issues. He specialises in metropolitan and strategic planning, infrastructure planning and funding analysis, cultural development, regional and community economic development, development feasibility analysis and facilities audits and planning. His contributions to metropolitan and strategic planning over many years in all the states and territories of Australia include economic and employment land studies; housing and residential market analysis; and analysis of potential growth scenarios for various levels of government.

Jane Keddie, Vice President, Planning Institute of Australia (VIC), Director - Urban Planning Hansen Partnership

Jane is the Director of Hansen’s Strategic Planning team based in Melbourne, with extensive experience managing a wide range of planning projects. She works collaboratively to deliver large and complex projects in both planning and design. Specialising in climate resilience and sustainability, Jane is committed to improving planning responses to climate change, earning her industry recognition and award wins.Her passion for regional Victoria is evident in her work, having contributed to numerous projects across the state.

Terms & Conditions

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