Boroondara Council Aligns Camberwell Junction Planning with Victorian State Controls

The Victorian Government introduced new planning controls for Camberwell Junction Activity Centre on 11 April 2025, including a Built Form Overlay with height limits of 4-6 storeys in the commercial core and a Housing Choice and Transport Zone for surrounding residential areas. These controls set the framework that the City of Boroondara must now apply through its local services and decisions.

State Controls and Council Alignment

The City of Boroondara adopted the Camberwell Junction Structure and Place Plan on 4 March 2024. This local plan aligns with the state’s finalised Activity Centre Plan and is intended to guide development over the next 10-30 years. Council officers are using the adopted structure plan to assess applications and shape responses to the April 2025 state overlays.

Development Approvals Under Local Review

A 12-storey commercial and residential tower at 699 Burke Road received approval from the City of Boroondara in June 2024 after an eight-year dispute between developers, residents, and council. The decision illustrates how the council processes contested proposals while operating under both local and emerging state rules.

Population Projections and Housing Needs

Camberwell Junction is projected to grow from 2,500 residents in 2021 to 5,800 by 2051, requiring approximately 1,500 additional homes under the new planning framework. Council planning staff are incorporating these figures when evaluating rezoning and permit applications that fall under the Housing Choice and Transport Zone.

In August 2025 the City of Boroondara expressed strong concern that the state government’s latest Camberwell Junction draft plans were released without proper consultation, claiming consultation assertions were "completely false". Officers continue to manage day-to-day planning services while documenting these concerns through formal submissions.

Future applications will be assessed against the combined requirements of the April 2025 Built Form Overlay, the 2024 Structure and Place Plan, and the Housing Choice and Transport Zone. Residents can review current proposals and make submissions through the City of Boroondara’s planning portal.