Dear [MP Name],

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As a resident of [South Yarra / Prahran / Malvern etc] near the [South Yarra / Hawksburn / Toorak….] Activity Centre, I am writing to provide my feedback on the proposed Stage 2 Train and Tram Zone Activity Centre (TTZAC) maps.

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I support the goal of increasing housing supply to solve the current crisis. Everyone deserves to live in a well-designed, sustainable home. However, the current "one-size-fits-all" mandate ignores the fact that Stonnington is already doing the heavy lifting. In 2021, 75% of our dwellings were already medium or high density, compared to just 34% across Greater Melbourne.

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One-third of the State’s entire metropolitan change is being forced onto our local streets through these changes. I demand that planning be done with us, not to us. I ask the State Government to adopt the following specific changes:

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1: Demonstrate that changes are Evidence-Based

 

The current plans are a "broad-brush" exercise with no publicly available modeling. I ask that you:

• Release the Data: Undertake and publicly release built-form modeling and economic analysis to show the impact of these controls on sunlight, traffic, and wind.

• Realistic Targets: Work with the Council to set center-specific housing targets based on realistic development viability, rather than blunt-instrument maps.

• Practical Supply: Move away from a reliance on "site consolidation" (merging small blocks), which is slow and unlikely to deliver the housing we need today.

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2: Use Stonnington’s Existing Strategic Work

 

Stonnington has already performed the "homework" that the State has missed. The local Neighbourhood Activity Centers (NAC) Framework and Housing Strategy identifies capacity for 67,000 new homes—17,000 more than the State’s target. I ask that you:

• Adopt the NAC Framework: Replace the current Stage 2 maps with Stonnington’s tested local strategies.

• Implement Floor Area Ratios (FARs): Use mandatory FARs in core areas to allow for slim, sun-filled buildings rather than the bulky "wedding cake" forms forced by blunt height-only rules.

• Refine Catchments: Use Stonnington’s refined boundaries that exclude areas where narrow streets or heritage constraints make intensive growth impossible.

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3: Ensure Infrastructure Planning and Investment is planned for NOW

 

Density cannot be proposed in isolation from the services required to support it and can’t be efficiently provided after the horse has bolted. I ask that you:

• Fund Infrastructure First: Commit to a fully funded plan for the parks, school places, and bike lanes we need before rezoning occurs.

• Fund Land Acquisition: Ensure the Infrastructure Contributions Plan (ICP) includes funding for the land required for new community facilities, not just the construction costs.

• Support Active Transport: Commit to clear timelines and funding for active transport upgrades to support a higher-density population.

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4: Environmentally Sustainable Development (ESD) and Climate Resilience

 

The buildings constructed now will last for decades; they must be climate-ready. I ask that you:

• Authorize Amendment C325ston: Immediately approve Stonnington’s planning scheme amendment to facilitate elevated ESD targets for all new developments.

• Cool Our Streets: Mandate a 30% tree canopy target, which is in line with State’s own metro targets, and protect existing established trees to prevent our neighborhood from becoming a heat island.

• Manage Flood Risk: Incorporate Melbourne Water’s updated flood mapping when considering catchment extents to ensure our streets don't flood as concrete coverage increases.

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5: Comply with Ideal Urban Design Objectives

 

The State’s plan currently ignores its own principles for good design. I demand a plan that follows Stonnington’s research to:

• Protect Sunlight: Maintain solar access to our main streets and public squares—the "backyards" for the 38% of us who rent or live in apartments.

• Respect Heritage: Exclude Heritage and Neighborhood Character Overlays from intensive development catchments.

• Maintain Human Scale: Avoid a "wall" of taller forms and ensure a visually interesting, vibrant public realm at walking pace.

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6: Restore Democracy and Social Justice

• Affordability for All: I am concerned that more housing the way that it is proposed will not translate into more affordable housing. Mandate Inclusionary Zoning to ensure a portion of all new developments is genuinely affordable for the nurses, teachers, and key workers our community relies on. 

• Restore Our Voice: Reject "deemed to comply" fast-tracking. Residents must keep their legal right to notice and the right to object and provide comment on developments that impact their homes.

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7. Prioritise Strategic Transit Corridors

 

We must direct growth to areas that can actually sustain it rather than overwhelming quiet, narrow residential streets. I ask that you:

• Prioritise the Punt Road Corridor: Focus higher density along major thoroughfares like Punt Road. This is a more appropriate location for increased scale than smaller suburban side streets.

• Remove Restrictive Overlays on Punt Road: In prioritising this corridor, remove the overlays currently restricting appropriate development in this area to unlock its full housing supply potential.

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Stonnington community and council have done the heavy lifting on density. We deserve a research-backed and transparent plan that protects our quality of life - now and into the future.

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Signed

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[YOU]

[Your Suburb or address if you are comfortable giving it]