Strengthening Victoria’s liveability

The key challenge for Victoria is to continue to deliver a strong economy whilst conserving and enhancing our quality of life, one that is recognised around the world.

Much of this can be attributed to the design of our built environment, which supports the well being of our communities.

The Victorian Department of Planning and Community Development ‘s (DPCD) Urban Design Unit assists in delivering the Government’s objective to improve and deliver state-wide standards of excellence in urban design and place making in the public environment.

The Unit provides urban design advice and advocacy on a state-wide basis to a range of public and private sector clients, and assists in both creating and leading the implementation of innovative projects in metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria.

Building design knowledge and capability

In order to achieve higher standards of urban design to enhance the liveability and sustainability of our towns and cities, we need to build the urban design expertise and knowledge of built environment professionals, particularly those who make or influence decisions about development.

In response, the Urban Design Unit has built a significant urban design training resource to support and contribute to the Government’s urban policies for managing the growth and change in Melbourne and regional Victoria. Since 2006, over 1,000 public and private sector built environment professionals from metropolitan Melbourne, regional Victoria and interstate have participated in a variety of urban design training events.

This year’s Urban Design Training Program has been designed with a particular emphasis on regional Victoria. Its aim is to improve the skills and competencies of participants so that they can better shape the urban environment through improved public safety, better urban layout and subdivision design and functional activity centres.