Planning for Activity Centres
Activity Centres are important elements of the State Government’s long-term plan to encourage and manage the sustainable growth of Melbourne.
They are suburban centres that provide a focus for services, employment, housing, transport and social interaction. They have a mix of activities, are well served by public transport and have an especially important role to play as a focus for community activity, services, investment and change in retail, office, community, service and residential markets.
Maroondah is served by a network of activity centres. They serve a range of catchments and functions:
Ringwood Metropolitan Activity Centre
The Ringwood Metropolitan Activity Centre is one of nine existing Metropolitan Activity Centres in Melbourne. The State Government identifies that these centres provide a diverse range of jobs, activities and housing for catchments well-served by public transport. It is a major location for service delivery, including of government, health, justice and education services. It also provides many retail and commercial opportunities.
The Ringwood Metropolitan Activity Centre Masterplan 2018 provides guidance on the future vision for Ringwood. Its guidance on land use and future development is outlined in the Maroondah Planning Scheme. Council worked with the Victorian Government to review and update the Masterplan during 2024. The changes were implemented through Amendment GC252 to the Maroondah Planning Scheme, with implementation anticipated in the coming months. You can find out more on our State Government planning changes pageI and the State Government’s Planning Scheme Amendments page.
At the 21 July 2025 Council meeting the Croydon Activity Centre Structure Plan 2025 and the related Development Contributions Plan were adopted.
The Croydon Activity Centre Structure Plan will help to guide the development and future of Croydon over the next 15 to 20 years by supporting population growth with well-planned opportunities for employment, education, housing, transport and physical environment and amenity. The aim is to make Croydon a key centre where people will work, learn, live, shop, socialise and play.
Croydon Activity Centre Structure Plan 2025(PDF, 12MB)
Croydon Activity Centre Development Contributions Plan(PDF, 2MB)
Based on State Government guidelines, Croydon Major Activity Centre is now referred to as Croydon Activity Centre. The adopted Plan reflects the name change and other changes to the plan as part of the consultation feedback. For simplicity, any previous reference to Croydon Major Activity Centre as part of previous consultation has not been changed.
You can learn more about the consultation on Council’s Your Say website.
For more detailed information on the adoption of the plans, you can read the minutes from the Monday 21 July Council Meeting.
Ringwood East Neighbourhood Activity Centre
The Ringwood East Activity Centre serves its neighbourhood, including those using the Ringwood East Railway Station. Council adopted the Ringwood East structure plan in 2013. More information and a copy of the Structure Plan is available on our Ringwood East Activity Centre Structure Plan page.
Heathmont Neighbourhood Activity Centre
The Heathmont Activity Centre serves its neighbourhood, including those using the Heathmont Railway Station. Council adopted the Heathmont structure plan in 2013. More information and a copy of the Structure Plan is available on our Heathmont Activity Centre Structure Plan page.