Vision
The Vision
The Doncaster Hill vision is a twenty-year vision, to create a mixed-use sustainable urban village with a strong sense of place and a community-focused lifestyle, which is the civic heart of Manningham.
Manningham City Council has set a planning framework for this exciting $2 billion development, to be built by the private sector.
Doncaster Hill will be Manningham’s newest destination,
an exciting urban village featuring contemporary medium to
high density housing within walking distance to shops, restaurants
and workplaces, entertainment and public transport.
One of the most significant planning projects in metropolitan
Melbourne, Doncaster Hill sets a new benchmark in architectural
and sustainable development.
Doncaster Hill is Manningham City Council’s response to increased demands for more appropriate sustainable and diverse housing options to accommodate changing demographic and social needs. It also aims to alleviate concerns over urban growth spreading further into poorly serviced and environmentally sensitive non-urban areas.
Manningham City Council formally adopted the Doncaster Hill Strategy in February 2002. It was developed through extensive community consultation and is based on triple line objectives that promote environmental, economic and social benefits for the community.
The Doncaster Hill Strategy guides the nature of development in the Doncaster Hill precinct and outlines the planning vision for the Hill. Click on the links below to view the full Doncaster Hill strategy:
An Urban Village
An urban village is an attractive place where people can
visit, live, work, and meet. It provides for everyday lifestyle
needs in a friendly, safe and accessible setting, and it offers
a unique blend of business, entertainment and living space
in the one convenient location.
Doncaster Hill will bring together facilities and services
that will appeal and cater to the needs of a variety of residents,
including families, singles, young people and senior citizens.
Sustainability and Urban Design
Doncaster Hill is one of the most significant planning projects
in Metropolitan Melbourne and sets a new benchmark in architectural
and sustainable development, with leading edge design and
strict planning standards.
Today
Manningham today boasts a diversity of shopping precincts and a range of world-class community and sporting facilities including Aquarena, Manningham Centre, the Manningham Function Centre and the Manningham Donvale Indoor Sports Complex. It is also home to schools and childcare centres.
Manningham is ranked as being the healthiest municipality in Victoria and is also one of the safest communities in the State. Statistics produced by Victoria Police show that in 2001-2002 Manningham recorded:
- the third lowest rate of offences against the person;
- the twelfth lowest rate of offences against property (and second lowest in metropolitan Melbourne);
- the sixth lowest rate of drug offences (and lowest in metropolitan Melbourne)
- and the lowest rate of other offences
Manningham is well known for its attractive streetscapes, its parklands and waterways, its network of recreation trails and mix of urban and non-urban areas.
Westfield Doncaster is another major drawcard for residents and visitors to Manningham and Doncaster Hill. The major regional Shopping Centre includes Myer, Kmart, speciality shops, Coles and Safeway supermarkets, a large food court and a library.
Manningham Council has approved plans to revitalise the complex. The plans include exciting new restaurants and cafes and a significant increase in prestige retail space. Also proposed is a multi-screen cinema complex, new library and improved parking and transport access.
The Past
“Many who came to Manningham … believed they had found a place to live that embodied the best of both worlds - a country environment close to the city.
For countless millennia the Yarra River gouged its way through hills to emerge from the Warrandyte Gorge onto the wide alluvial flats of a broad valley in the land of the Wurundjeri. In 1836 the first Europeans settled in the area. Many more followed, attracted by the Valley's fertile soils and, in the 1850's, Victoria's first official goldfield. The Wurundjeri gave way to colonists; and a wilderness to stock runs, ploughed fields, fruit growing, villages and now leafy suburban subdivisions and Parkland”.
Doncaster is one of Manningham's gateway suburbs on the municipality's southern boundary, "a cluster of suburban housing crowned by Shoppingtown, a landmark development perched high on a hill" (known today as Doncaster Hill). "From this vantage point the surprising vista to Melbourne is a counterpane of tree tops billowing in waves of green down to the valley of the Yarra River. Tiled roofs hide cosily beneath".
("Manningham from Country to City" 2001, Barbara Pertzel & Fiona Walters)
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