CHIL is an abbreviation of the name “Community Heart in Lilydale”. The name reflects community feedback from the Lilydale Place Plan and Lilydale Structure Plan which spoke to the desire for a community heart.

A precinct is an area of a town that shares a common theme, such as similar functions, or is defined by major edges, such as roads (Maroondah Hwy), rivers or creeks (Olinda Creek), or land uses (parks, shops, recreation facilities).

The CHIL Precinct Design Framework mainly focuses on Council-owned land in the centre of Lilydale.

A Design Framework maps out the future development of a town, and how it will look over time. It discusses what type of physical features should be included – like open spaces, town squares and buildings, and how to make them work together to become a vibrant and welcoming community focus.

A Design Framework creates a long-term vision and design directions to prioritise projects that can be prepared for delivery, over time.

The Lilydale Structure Plan identified this part of Lilydale as needing more detailed design investigation given the complicated relationships between each of the spaces and uses.

We know what the population trends look like over the next 15-20 years and the growing needs for a range of community infrastructure in Lilydale, including what types of services and activities are needed.

We now need to work out how to put all these pieces together to create a welcoming, safe, accessible and environmentally-friendly precinct.

The CHIL Precinct Design Framework will enable Council to plan and prioritise the development of community infrastructure to cater to current and future community needs.

Through extensive community consultation, the Lilydale Place Plan 2018 set a vision for Lilydale, with a strong focus on creating "New centres for community", including, "places to gather for a sense of belonging".

This was followed by the Lilydale Structure Plan which was developed with broad community engagement through 2021 and then endorsed in 2022. This plan outlines how Council will manage growth, facilitate change and guide infrastructure delivery.

A further study focused on community facilities in Lilydale with interviews with a wide range of stakeholders to provide an evidence base for current and future facility needs.

This previous work and community feedback will feed into the CHIL Precinct Design Framework.

The Victorian Government selected Lilydale to be included in the Suburban Revitalisation program. Yarra Ranges Council has partnered with the Lilydale Revitalisation Board to develop projects that improve public space, generate jobs and support local businesses. The CHIL Precinct Design Framework has been co-funded with the Victorian Government’s Suburban Revitalisation Program.

The projects identified will be accompanied by high-level cost estimates, which will enable Council to plan for and seek partnership opportunities to support delivery over an extended period of time. There is currently no funding committed to deliver the projects.

Several projects require significant pre-planning, detailed design, authority approvals, and potential partnerships. As a result, the major infrastructure would need to be planned and delivered over time. However some other elements are simpler, such as improvements to the footpaths and public spaces, and can be scheduled once funds are available.