A TDF is a design document that identifies projects that can be delivered over the next 10-20 years based on the community's hopes for the future and addressing areas of concern and need. It seeks to understand the relationships between features like open spaces and facilities, and how they should look and be arranged.

It includes where transport, car parks, commercial buildings, and recreational facilities should be located.

A TDF demonstrates how all these features can work together to preserve the local character and create town centres where community and local businesses thrive and everyone enjoys attractive places to live, visit and work.

Healesville continues to experience change and pressure arising from increased interest from visitors and changing needs for local residents.

Healesville has been identified as the next focus for Council to explore ways to manage these different issues and make sure that projects are delivered in a coordinated way.

TDFs provide guidelines, standards and plans to help with Council decision-making. Councils prepare TDFs to help them think creatively and strategically about towns and how people use them.

This makes sure new buildings, parks, bike paths, public areas, and businesses are developed in line with set standards for safety, sustainability, accessibility, environmentally friendly infrastructure, and overall quality of life.

In the last two years, Council has adopted both the Warburton Urban Design Framework (UDF) and Monbulk UDF.

Council have recently developed a Township Design Framework model that is more suited to activity centres outside the Urban Growth Boundary. While it will use similar themes it will enable a strong local character focus which community relate to better.

There will be several opportunities to have your say on the TDF and subsequent projects. You can share your ideas at the start of the TDF and then give feedback again later when we have a Draft TDF ready for review.

Once adopted, the TDF will also identify several projects within each precinct. Many will involve further consultation as each project goes into more detail, technical expert input and approval from relevant authorities.

An adopted TDF can form the basis of updates to design controls in the Yarra Ranges Planning Scheme. This would need a Planning Scheme Amendment. This includes notification to impacted landowners, a formal exhibition period, and sometimes consideration by an independent Planning Panel.

Any projects proposed by the TDF would be delivered on Council land such as streetscape, community facilities and open space projects.

The TDF does not propose specific projects on private land. However, it may provide the basis to investigate updated planning controls to improve development outcomes in the centre. Any changes to the planning control would require a separate Planning Scheme Amendment and its own public exhibition process.

The team has been preparing background by reviewing documents such as the Healesville Structure Plan and feedback from recent projects, including Lilydale Road and Green Street locally and specific Healesville feedback, in broader projects such as the Aquatic Strategy and the Council Plan. This background will guide the next stages of the TDF.

We have also had a look at planning controls and hazards such as flooding and bushfire to assess any areas in need of further attention. Council have also been noting community comments on significant Planning Applications that will help inform what future Planning controls might be needed.

There is also excellent information on the history of Healesville which tells the story of the growing community and helps to see opportunities to celebrate our past.

Other upcoming Council projects in Healvesville include the Don Road Recreation Reserve Masterplan and Pavilion.

A cost estimate for the actions and concept designs proposed by the Draft Healesville TDF will be listed at the end of the document.

No projects will have committed funding. However, having an adopted plan will give a strong basis for advocating for external funds and enable the Council to seek funding through its annual Capital Works Program.

The timing of some projects will require significant pre-planning, authority approvals, and documentation, and therefore may take several years to deliver.

Simpler projects can be scheduled once funds are available, such as improvements to the footpaths and easy to deliver improvements to the streetscapes.

TDFs involve the preparation of realistic design concepts based on consultation, research and analysis. All physical projects proposed in a TDF are subject to the existing strategies and policies, at the time of their development.

Relevant Victorian Government Agencies, including but not limited to: Country Fire Authority (CFA); Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA); Department of Transport and Planning (DTP); Heritage Victoria; Melbourne Water; and VicRoads can also provide feedback into the development of a TDF.

The Healesville Structure Plan was adopted by Council in 2016 and guides the future growth and development of Healesville. The plan focuses at a higher level on land uses:

• strengthening the role of the town centre
• identifying public improvements
• making recommendations on key redevelopment sites
• extending pedestrian networks
• building on Healesville's tourism appeal and environmental features

At the 13 December 2022 Council Meeting, Council approved an update the actions of the Structure Plan, to reflect implementation work that had been completed. A status update was also given on the actions that had not yet been completed.

A Design and Development Overlay (DDO) is a planning tool applied to areas such as shopping strips and other identified precincts. It outlines specific requirements to guide the built form and design of new development in those identified areas. They generally try to achieve a balance between allowing new development and making sure they are sensitive towards heritage buildings, existing homes and public spaces like footpaths and parks.

All DDOs still have to comply with other parts of the Yarra Ranges Planning Scheme.

A TDF includes ‘concept’ designs. These are indications of how the projects could potentially ‘look’ and are used as a starting point for idea generation and further discussion.

‘Concepts designs’ do not have the level of detail required for construction. They are indicative and subject to budgeting, further consultation, and detailed design.

A ‘detailed design’ is only produced when a project is ready to be progressed towards construction. A key part of developing a ‘detailed design’ is the opportunity for further stakeholder and community input.