Melbourne’s growing population is increasing demand for community spaces that support connection, wellbeing and access to services. At the same time, limited land, rising costs and changing community needs mean we need to plan smarter and more strategically.

The Community Infrastructure Plan (the Plan) has been developed to guide long-term decisions about what community spaces are needed, where they should be located, and how they will be delivered.

The draft Plan was endorsed by the Future Melbourne Committee in December 2025 for public consultation. It was made available to the community alongside supporting information, including an interactive map of existing community spaces and planned projects, to help inform feedback.

Hundreds of insights from feedback on previous City of Melbourne engagement on community spaces and services, M2050 and the Council Plan 2025-29 informed the development of the draft Plan.

Consultation on the draft Plan took place over 9 weeks, from December 2025 to February 2026. To encourage broad participation, engagement activities and communication of the consultation, included:

• Information and the draft Plan available on Participate Melbourne.
• A survey and submission form on Participate Melbourne where people could share feedback.
• Targeted workshops with groups that are often underrepresented in community engagement, including young people and people with a disability.
• Pop-up events at locations across the municipality which gave residents, workers and visitors a chance to provide feedback and speak directly to staff.
• Meeting with Traditional Owners, service delivery partners, Victorian Government departments and others.
• Social media campaign to reach a broad range of our community.
• Specific call-outs through existing community and partner networks, City of Melbourne newsletters and posters in existing community hubs.

Key messages emerged through community engagement:

• Overall support for the draft Plan and its response to growth and changing community needs.
• Respondents valued community spaces as welcoming, inclusive places to connect without needing to spend money.
• Interest in making better use of existing spaces through shared use, flexible design and extended hours.
• A desire for more community involvement in planning and design.
• Support for partnerships and working with others, including Traditional Owners, government and community organisations.

Your feedback has helped refine the Plan to improve clarity, strengthen its focus on equity and access, and better reflect community priorities.

Key updates include:

• Strengthened principles to centre equity, access and community voice.
• Introduction of case studies showing existing community spaces that put the Plan’s principles into practice.
• Clearer structure, presenting information by both local area and type of community space.
• Simpler, more accessible language.
• Updated commitments aligned with the 2026–27 Annual Plan and Budget.

We have also added more detail on:

• The hierarchy and distribution of community spaces.
• How the Plan will be monitored, reviewed and reported on.
• How future ideas will be assessed and progressed.

Specific suggestions, requests and local ideas shared during engagement will inform future planning and delivery.

The final Community Infrastructure Plan will be considered by the Future Melbourne Committee on 16 June 2026.