Draft plan for Drouin on public exhibition

Expansion of Drouin’s retail centre and developing the town’s laneways into niche public spaces are among the recommendations of a draft Drouin Township Plan presented to Baw Baw Shire.

Tract Consulting prepared the draft plan that will be on public exhibition for six weeks.

The primary focus of the plan is Drouin’s commercial town centre.

However, the plan also extends to residential and industrial areas as well as connection and development opportunities throughout the town and into new growth areas.

There are four central themes in the draft plan:

Activities and land use: Drouin should become a centre with strong retail and commercial focus, complete with a range of housing options.

Built form: New urban character that respects the past. Density and an increase in acceptable heights will be encouraged throughout the town centre. The historic fine grain of the town centre should be maintained.

Open space and public realm: Beautiful parks, plazas, tree-lined streets and bustling laneways.

Movement and transport: A well connected and multi-modal town with a compact town centre that supports all modes of transportation – train, bus, walking, cycling and car travel.

The plan identifies nine key opportunities including:

Retail expansion;

Diversifying housing throughout Drouin, allowing for more apartments and townhouses close town;

Improving footpath amenity and pedestrian connections;

Creation of a “station to park” pedestrian spine;

Turn the town’s laneways into valued public spaces;

Maintain and strengthen the Princes Way boulevard of trees;

Development potential of vacant and underdeveloped land parcels in the town centre;

Shared paths for better connectivity between the town centre and broader town areas; and, Solutions to Princes Way traffic congestion. Cr Keith Cook said the need for this plan was prompted by the population growth in Drouin.

He said the plan outlined a number of opportunities to improve the town’s pedestrian environment while also looking at ways to improve traffic flow.

“This plan will provide council and community with practical and actionable strategies to be able to better accommodate growth, while not losing the much-loved character and amenity of Drouin,” he said.

Cr Tricia Jones encouraged community members to read the plan and have their say.

She said the plan would be the blueprint for how Drouin will look going into the future.

Cr Jones said she supported the recommendation for a station to Civic Park pedestrian link.

“This will provide practical and manageable actions.

“We strongly encourage local residents, visitors, business owners and community groups to have a good look over the draft plan and provide feedback,” she said.

Cr Jessica O’Donnell said the plan outlined a vision for what Drouin would look like in the future.

“The town has changed immensely, and we need to look at what our CBD will look like.

“Beautiful parks and plazas, bustling streets and laneways are what’s important to Drouin.

“At the heart of this plan is the desire to proactively lead Drouin into the next decade and ensure the vibrancy, buildings, open spaces and transport requirements are well planned for the future,” she said.

Cr Darren Wallace said population growth was turning Drouin into a major centre.

He said the town centre faced a number of complex issues with its topography and traffic network.

But, he said no-one knew the town better than the Drouin community who should take the opportunity to provide feedback.

The draft plan was prepared based on initial community feedback and ideas sought last year. Input also was sought from Regional Roads Victoria, Melbourne Water, Gippsland Water, Department of Transport and community groups including the Friends of Drouin’s Trees, Committee for Drouin and the Drouin Business Group.

Community members can review the draft plan and provide feedback via www.bawbawshire.vic.gov.au/HaveYourSay

Consultation will close on June 8.