The Victorian Government is planning for its Activity Centres Program to provide more homes in and around 60 activity centres across Melbourne, focusing on areas near train and tram lines with good access to public transport, services, and open spaces.
Victorian Government’s Activity Centres Program
The Program proposes to update current planning controls and aims to create 300,000 new homes in these areas by 2051.
The Victorian Government is the planning authority in developing these Activity Centre Plans. Council will be the planning authority once the new planning controls are in place, this is expected throughout 2026.
The program is divided into three stages and affects several of Glen Eira's activity centres, in particular:
| Pilot Program | Stage 1 activity centres | Stage 2 activity centres |
| Chadstone and Moorabbin |
Carnegie, Murrumbeena and Hughesdale 25 centres across Melbourne |
Caulfield, Glen Huntly, Ormond, Bentleigh and Elsternwick 23 centres across Melbourne |
| Status: completed and controls in the Planning Scheme as of April 2025 | Status: completed and controls in the Planning Scheme as of March 2026
In October 2025, Council made a submission to the Stage 1 draft plans, read it here. |
Status: engagement on draft maps closed on 22 March 2026; Government is expected to finalise Activity Centre Plans and controls by mid-2026
|
What this means for Glen Eira
Over recent years, Council has worked closely with our community to develop Structure Plans for many of our activity centres including Bentleigh, Carnegie, Caulfield, Elsternwick and Glen Huntly. These Structure Plans capture local community feedback about the future vision, growth, development, open space, heritage protection, and liveability. Each of these Structure Plans have been adopted by Council and has active planning scheme amendment applications awaiting approval by the Minister of Planning.
Generally, Council’s Structure Plans did not address residential areas around activity centres; instead, these areas were considered through our Housing Strategy. Our Housing Strategy shows Glen Eira has the capacity to accommodate 55,000 new dwellings between 2021 and 2036. The Victorian Government's housing target is 63,500 new dwellings in Glen Eira by 2051. As our Housing Strategy capacity figure was only to 2036, this gives us another 15 years to achieve the Victorian Government's target.
We have shared our adopted structure plans with the Victorian Government and strongly advocated that this work be incorporated into their planning process for the Activity Centres Program.
We support good planning that improves housing options while protecting Glen Eira’s unique character and heritage. We will continue to advocate for well-planned development that protects heritage areas, delivers community benefit, and aligns with Glen Eira’s priorities and vision.
Council's existing structure plans
Carnegie Structure Plan and Amendment C237
Carnegie is one of the key focus activity centres in the Victorian Government’s planning reforms.
In 2022, Council adopted the Carnegie Structure Plan — a 15-year vision to guide local growth and improvement. It outlines a range of recommendations, including building heights, setbacks, and protections for sunlight in key public spaces.
The Amendment C237 proposes to introduce permanent planning controls that reflect the Structure Plan. It went through a full public process, including consultation, exhibition, and review by an independent planning panel.
The panel process was thorough and involved significant input from community members and experts. Council achieved many of its planning objectives through the panel process and accepted the panel’s recommendations.
Council adopted Amendment C237 over a year ago and has since been awaiting final approval from the Minister for Planning to include these controls in the Glen Eira Planning Scheme.
It is disappointing that the Victorian Government chose to prepare an entirely new activity centre plan for Carnegie, despite an existing adopted Structure Plan and Planning Scheme Amendment awaiting approval.
Council was pleased to see that the boundary and heights within the Carnegie Structure Plan have generally been reflected in the plans prepared under the Activity Centres Program.
Elsternwick Structure Plan and Amendment C256
The Elsternwick Structure Plan was adopted in 2023 and associated Amendment C256 was exhibited in early 2025. Council received several submissions to this exhibition and is advocating for the Elsternwick Structure Plan and these submissions to be included in the planning for the Elsternwick activity centre under the Activity Centres Program.
Elsternwick activity centre is now part of Stage 2 of the Victorian Government’s Activity Centre Program.
Bentleigh Structure Plan and proposed Amendment C262
Council endorsed the planning scheme amendment to incorporate the objectives of the Structure Plan into the Glen Eira Planning Scheme on 23 July 2024. Council has yet to receive authorisation from the Minister of Planning to exhibit this amendment.
Bentleigh activity centre is now part of Stage 2 of the Victorian Government’s Activity Centre Program.
Caulfield Structure Plan and proposed Amendment C245
The Caulfield Structure Plan was adopted by Council on 20 September 2022.
Council has prepared draft planning controls and a planning scheme amendment to implement the Caulfield Structure Plan. The draft Amendment C245glen was endorsed by Council on 21 May 2024. Council has yet to receive authorisation from the Minister of Planning to exhibit this amendment.
Caulfield activity centre is now part of Stage 2 of the Victorian Government’s Activity Centre Program.
Glen Huntly Structure Plan and proposed Amendment C221
The Glen Huntly Structure Plan was adopted by Council on 23 September 2021.
Council has prepared an Amendment which was endorsed by Council on 8 November 2023 to implement key directions in the Plan in the form of permanent planning controls for the use of land. Council has yet to receive authorisation from the Minister of Planning to exhibit this amendment.
Glen Huntly activity centre is now part of Stage 2 of the Victorian Government’s Activity Centre Program.
