The conversation

We gathered a record number of responses to our recent Neighbourhood Survey which asked you for your priorities in neighbourhoods over the next four years. An astounding 4424 people responded to the call-out for community feedback.

Through this survey, we wanted to check in on the neighbourhood priorities you shared with us in 2022 and understand any changes in community sentiment. We also wanted feedback on how our new neighbourhood approach was tracking and what you like or want to see improved as part of this.

Gathering insights

The consultation ran from 21 February to 31 March 2024. We conducted a broad range of face-to-face and digital activities to engage our diverse community — including residents, business owners, workers, students and visitors.

We collected feedback through digital and in-person surveys and small group workshop discussions.

Our consultation activities

We held more than 130 engagement activities, including:

Pictures from community engagement activities

Who we reached

More than 4400 people participated in the survey — the largest engagement recorded on the Participate Melbourne platform throughout its decade-long history. This included:

  • 520 business owners
  • 236 students
  • 213 visitors

We received more than 290 responses in each neighbourhood, with more responses from higher density neighbourhoods including Southbank (676) and CBD (532).

Age:

  • 25% (1084) of respondents were under age 30 — higher than City of Melbourne engagement average of 17%

Gender:

  • The majority (61%) of respondents identified as female
  • 75 (2%) identified as non-binary/gender diverse

Diversity characteristics:

  • 49 people identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
  • 33% born overseas (1370)
  • 16% identified as LGBTQIA+ (666)
  • 7% international students (295)
  • 6% identified as a person with a disability (237)

What we heard

While each neighbourhood has specific priorities, the most common priorities across all neighbourhoods in the City of Melbourne are:

  • Affordable housing and homelessness support emerged as the highest priority overall, especially in Carlton, CBD, North Melbourne, East Melbourne and South Yarra. This is a significant shift from 2022 engagement findings. Many respondents interpreted this topic as being about the need for more affordable housing and support for people experiencing homelessness. Others interpreted this topic as relating to general affordability of house prices and rents. Many community members referenced the connection between cost of living, housing affordability and the increase in people experiencing homelessness.
  • More plants, trees and open spaces was the second highest priority across neighbourhoods. Respondents indicated a strong appreciation for existing greening and open space and wanted more given new developments and population growth. Respondents also emphasised the benefits this would have for climate and sustainability, as well as health.
  • Better roads, paths, public transport and parking was also a popular topic. Improving movement and safety across a wide range of transport modes was important (including walking, cycling, micro-mobility such as scooters, driving/parking and public transport). This also included requests for better coordination of road works, planning and regulations for safer sharing of roads and fewer disruptions.
  • Cleaner streets, waste and graffiti removal was also a top priority, particularly in the CBD, East Melbourne and Southbank. Respondents mentioned the need to improve the maintenance of public spaces and amenities as well as address levels of graffiti and rubbish.
  • Localised creative and cultural events to connect community was the fifth highest priority. Respondents requested more creative events and opportunities to bring the community together and help improve connection, belonging and combat social isolation. Suggestions included local festivals, music events and specific activities for older people, younger people and other community members.

Safety was a recurring theme in many of the neighbourhoods and is associated with other priorities including cleanliness, better roads and paths, sense of community, support for people experiencing homelessness, and the need for better and greener open spaces.

Respondents also identified urgent climate action as important. In particular, respondents called for more sustainable initiatives in transport and waste.

Local business action was also a recurring theme, particularly in Docklands where it was the second highest priority and in Carlton where it was the third highest priority.

Carlton
  1. Affordable housing and homelessness support (51%)
  2. Creative and cultural events to connect community (28%)
  3. Support for local economy, jobs and places (26%) and Better roads, paths, public transport and parking (26%)
CBD
  1. Affordable housing and homelessness support (54%)
  2. Cleaner streets, waste and graffiti removal (34%)
  3. More plants, trees and improved open spaces (32%) and Better roads, paths, public transport and parking (32%)
Docklands
  1. More plants, trees and improved open spaces (53%)
  2. Support for local economy, jobs and places (39%)
  3. Creative and cultural events to connect community (32%)
East Melbourne
  1. Affordable housing and homelessness support (32%)
  2. Creative and cultural events to connect community (32%)
  3. Cleaner streets, waste and graffiti (28%)
Kensington
  1. Better roads, paths, public transport and parking (47%)
  2. More plants, trees and improved open spaces (40%)
  3. Affordable housing and homelessness support (32%)
North Melbourne
  1. Affordable housing and homelessness support (49%)
  2. More plants, trees and improved open spaces (40%)
  3. Creative and cultural events to connect community (31%)
Parkville
  1. Better roads, paths, public transport and parking (44%)
  2. Affordable housing and homelessness support (43%)
  3. Climate action and environmental sustainability (26%)
Southbank
  1. More plants, trees and improved open spaces (52%)
  2. Better roads, paths, public transport and parking (42%)
  3. Cleaner streets, waste and graffiti (34%)
South Yarra
  1. Affordable housing and homelessness support (41%)
  2. Better roads, paths, public transport and parking (39%)
  3. Creative and cultural events to connect community (29%)
West Melbourne
  1. More plants, trees and improved open spaces (54%)
  2. Better roads, paths, public transport and parking (39%)
  3. Affordable housing and homelessness support (34%)

Approximately 90% of people said they either liked the neighbourhood approach (40%) or liked the sound of it but didn’t know much about it (50%).

A further 8% didn’t know and 2% said they didn’t like it. Key feedback on the approach included improving promotion and awareness of it along with other initiatives to help support community connection.

Respondents were also asked to indicate what local activities they may be interested in being part of in future. The top three responses included:

  • Attending a local event (68%)
  • Joining a local group (42%)
  • Volunteering (41%)

Impact and next steps

This feedback will be used to inform the development of the next Council Plan 2025-2029 and other key council strategies.

More detailed reports on the findings for each neighbourhood are being prepared and work undertaken to refine priorities for each neighbourhood in response to feedback.

In 2024-25, City of Melbourne will play a key role in addressing the most common priorities through:

  • Homes Melbourne: Deliver and open the Make Room project, providing transitional supported housing for up to 50 residents at a time. We will also continue to deliver the Affordable Housing Strategy.
  • Urban Forest Strategy: Plant more trees and implement the urban forest precinct plans to increase the canopy cover to 40 per cent by 2040.
  • Open Space Strategy: Progress work to deliver new and improved open space across the municipality including CBD, Kensington, North Melbourne and Southbank
  • Transport Strategy: Deliver new bicycle infrastructure, neighbourhood pedestrian and road safety improvements, and continue rollout of the Parking and Kerbside Management Plan.
  • Waste, recycling and graffiti: Deliver the Graffiti Prevention and Management Plan and cleaner streets through new cleaning management contracts.
  • Public Art Program and Connected Neighbourhoods: Support localised creative, social and cultural events through ongoing innovative programming at our venues and spaces. Connected Neighbourhoods Small grants will also continue to support local community-led events and activities.

Neighbourhoods