Health and wellbeing
- Maternal and child health
- Family services
- Space for older people
- Space for young people
- Space for community health services
By 2043, the number of people living in the City of Melbourne is expected to reach over 292,000 – an increase of 65 per cent.
As our city grows, we need innovative solutions to serve a changing community while tackling the challenges of rising costs and limited space.
That’s why we’ve developed the draft Community Infrastructure Plan – to guide how we manage, fund and deliver community infrastructure into the future.
About
What is community infrastructure?
Community infrastructure means spaces where people can:
- use services
- join programs
- take part in activities to learn, stay healthy, and feel supported and connected.
Our draft plan focuses on spaces owned and managed by the City of Melbourne, and those where we play a role in delivery.
Learn more about the community infrastructure categories below:
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Education
- Long day care
- Kindergarten
- Playgroup
- Toy library
- Primary school
- Secondary school
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General community
- Community kitchen
- Community garden
- Makerspace
- Library
- Community space
- Neighbourhood house
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Open space
- Capital city
- State
- Regional
- Municipal
- Neighbourhood
- Local
- Small Local
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Aboriginal and Traditional Owner
- Spaces for Aboriginal or Aboriginal-focused organisations and services
- Ceremonial
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Sports and recreation
- Organised sport
- Community pavilion
- Aquatic centre
- Recreation centre
- Boating facilities
- Unstructured sport
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Arts and culture
- Performance
- Exhibition
- Production
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Affordable housing and homelessness
- Public housing
- Community housing
- Subsidised market housing
- Space for homelessness support services
- Transition housing
What is a community hub?
‘Community hubs’ are buildings or groups of buildings offering multiple services and activities in one place, making it easier for people to connect and access what they need.
Our role
Our role in community infrastructure
Our plan focuses on the spaces where we have a direct role in:
- Planning – where we plan and design, undertake research and set the long-term vision for community infrastructure.
- Providing – where we build, operate, maintain and deliver services from Council-owned and managed spaces.
- Partnering – working with others through leases, contributions, grants or partnerships.
- Advocating – to other levels of government and stakeholders for the best possible outcomes for our community.
- Facilitating – through regulating development, brokering partnerships and connecting people with spaces.
The Community Infrastructure Plan will guide how we work with other levels of government, community groups, and the private and not-for-profit sector so that you can access the services and spaces you need – no matter where you live in our city.
The principles
Community Infrastructure Principles
Our draft Community Infrastructure Plan proposes five principles. These principles aim to make sure our community infrastructure is planned, delivered and managed in a way that aligns with the community aspirations and the M2050 Vision: ‘Liveable Melbourne, growing stronger together’.
Select the principles below to learn more and tell us what you think by sharing your feedback.
We will create connected, multi-purpose community spaces that celebrate local identity and work together as a unified network.
How will we achieve this?
- Deliver community hubs that bring services together to improve experience and operations.
- Spread community infrastructure across our municipality so that everyone can access the services they need.
- Pursue design excellence through buildings that connect to the public realm, local identity and history.
- Plan transport and community infrastructure together, from the local to municipal scale, recognising our role as a capital city.
We will ensure everyone can access welcoming, inclusive community infrastructure close to home, at every stage of life.
How will we achieve this?
- Focus investment on reducing social and gender inequity and supporting communities experiencing disadvantage.
- Design spaces that are safe, inclusive and accessible for all ages and abilities and reflect the diversity and unique needs of our communities.
- Use community priorities and data to guide decisions and meet needs.
- Recognise Country and language in the design, naming and location of community infrastructure to support cultural continuity and connection.
We will design flexible, future-ready infrastructure that makes the most of existing resources and supports a healthy environment.
How will we achieve this?
- Create spaces that can adapt to changing needs, technologies and climate.
- Make the most of existing assets before building new.
- Prioritise shared spaces that support different and multiple uses over time.
- Design infrastructure that is fossil fuel free, climate resilient and supports biodiversity.
We will invest responsibly in infrastructure that delivers long-term value and is supported by sustainable funding and resource planning.
How will we achieve this?
- Leverage external funding opportunities and strategic partnerships.
- Invest in projects that deliver lasting social, environmental and economic benefits.
- Plan for full lifecycle costs, including maintenance and operations.
- Proactively secure land to meet future community needs through ownership or partnership.
We will make transparent, evidence-based decisions that empower communities and align with our broader goals.
How will we achieve this?
- Pursue innovative governance and delivery models that engage community, stakeholders and external partners.
- Align community infrastructure planning with our broader policies, planning and processes.
- Gather data and information that allows us to evaluate our network and the effectiveness of our decisions.
- Focus on community infrastructure we are the best placed to deliver, supported by advocacy and partnerships.
