Councillors acknowledged significant milestone in planning for the future of Berwick Village at the December Council Meeting, following the completion of Stage two community engagement on the Draft Berwick Village Major Activity Centre Structure Plan earlier this year.
Community engagement invited residents, businesses and stakeholders to review the draft vision, key directions and actions, and provide feedback to help refine a final version of the plan. Around 70% of participants supported the draft vision, key directions and actions.
Community feedback highlighted several clear themes:
• A strong desire to preserve the village character and heritage
• Support for local and independent businesses
• Mixed views on diverse and medium to high‑density housing
• Calls for more green spaces, landscaping and public‑realm activation
• Requests for improvements to parking, accessibility and transport infrastructure
Mayor Cr Stefan Koomen said the December meeting was an opportunity to reflect on the community's contribution.
"Berwick Village is cherished for its unique, historic character and local businesses. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share your views. Your feedback makes it clear that protecting what people love about the area, while creating inviting green spaces and vibrant public areas, is a top priority," Cr Koomen said.
"We'll keep working closely with the community and the State Government to deliver a plan that celebrates Berwick's strengths and supports its future."
Akoonah Ward Cr Scott Dowling acknowledged the community's perspectives.
"We heard mixed views on housing diversity and building heights, alongside strong calls to improve parking, accessibility and transport," said Cr Dowling.
"Thank you to all Berwick residents, businesses and stakeholders who contributed. We're excited about the future of Berwick Village, ensuring the best parts of our community are protected and celebrated while our community continues to grow."
Council Officers have also pro-actively engaged State Government departments to ensure the draft plan aligns with emerging planning reforms. Final details will be informed by the State Housing Capacity Assessment Platform (HCAP) tool, anticipated for release in December 2025. Once available, officers will review the draft plan to confirm it identifies realistic opportunities for new development to meet Council's housing target, focusing particularly on the built‑form framework, including preferred building heights.
The final Structure Plan is scheduled to be presented to Council for adoption in March 2026, together with a request for authorisation of the associated planning scheme amendment for submission to the Minister for Planning.
