Tracing the Sequence of Decisions Behind Camberwell Junction Planning Controls

The Victorian Government introduced new planning controls for the Camberwell Junction Activity Centre on 11 April 2025 that include a Built Form Overlay for height controls and a Housing Choice and Transport Zone for the residential catchment. These controls arrived after a series of earlier local and state actions that set the framework for development in the area.

Council's Adopted Structure Plan

The Camberwell Junction Structure and Place Plan was adopted by Councillors on 4 March 2024. That plan projected resident growth from 2,500 in 2021 to 5,800 by 2051 and formed the basis for Council's preferred boundary and built-form approach. The document reflected Council's work on managing future housing and transport outcomes within the activity centre.

Development Approval That Preceded State Changes

In June 2024 the City of Boroondara voted to approve a 12-storey commercial and residential development at 699 Burke Road. The decision ended an eight-year dispute over the site and occurred under the planning rules in place before the April 2025 state intervention. It illustrated the type of taller built form that had already been under consideration within the activity centre.

Points of Council Concern Over State Plans

Council has expressed deep concern with the state government's latest housing plans for Camberwell Junction. The concerns centre on what Council describes as false claims of consultation and an 800m expansion of the activity centre boundary beyond the plan adopted by Council. These differences emerged after the March 2024 adoption and the June 2024 development approval, shaping the context for the controls introduced in April 2025.

Next Steps for Residents and Applicants

Property owners and applicants inside the updated activity centre boundary can review the Built Form Overlay and Housing Choice and Transport Zone provisions through the City of Boroondara planning pages. Council continues to provide information on how the new state controls interact with its adopted Structure and Place Plan for those preparing development proposals.