Clarkefield Town Centre will be built on 26 hectares of land contained within an existing and designated Township Zone.

APD is not seeking comment on other privately held land within the Town Centre, but is in discussions with all landowners as to their aspirations for the area.

Also excluded is public and Council owned land. The project will continue to work with local residents and the Shire Council to identify ways that the Clarkefield Town Centre renewal can contribute to the upgrading of public facilities.

Clarkefield Town Centre and broader Clarkefield Township

Before work can commence on the Clarkefield Town Centre a detailed Development Plan is required to be lodged with the Macedon Ranges Shire Council in accordance with requirements of the Macedon Ranges Planning Scheme.

Now that community feedback has been received, APD Projects are planning to lodge a Development Plan application in the second half of 2021 to Council.

Once approved, construction of the Town Centre will happen over a 5 – 6 year period.

The development of the remainder of Clarkefield will require further consultation and a separate approval process to rezone this land. This development likely to occur over a further 10-15 year period after rezoning.

We are looking to rejuvenate 26 hectares of already Township Zoned land adjoining the Clarkefield station.

Critical to the future of the Clarkefield Town Centre will be the ability for all residents to live in a low carbon and low impact way.

The Clarkefield Town Centre will embody the vision and development principles for the future and broader Clarkefield with:

• A refreshed village character
• Between 350 and 450 homes
• A priority on walkability, ease of transport and access to daily needs
• High quality open spaces, rural atmosphere and sustainable landscaping
• A commitment to affordable housing and choice of housing
• Convenience retail and local community services
• High speed public internet.

Clarkefield Town Centre Draft Plan including highlighted key features

Clarkefield Town Centre zoning plan and broader Clarkefield Township

The existing town centre of Clarkefield includes a small collection of privately held residences, heritage buildings such as the Clarkefield Hotel, the Clarkefield Recreation Reserve (which includes a sporting field and community facilities) a CFA building, the Clarkefield Train Station and a disused school. A number of these buildings have been in a slow decline for several years.

There is currently no municipal sewerage or water supply in the town, and this has prevented growth of the township. The Clarkefield Town Centre project will include installing these services.

The renewal of Clarkefield Town Centre will be underpinned by the protection and celebration of the historic Clarkefield Hotel and Stables. These are essential heritage assets to the community and will be important centrepieces for any future township.

We are also planning a mixed-use town centre with a pedestrian friendly treed boulevard and Australian village styled landscaping. There will be a range of retail and non-retail uses with open space and walkable distances to community services and the Clarkefield Train Station.

Coach and Horses Inn, Station Street

Coach and Horses Inn (The Stables)

The original inhabitants of Clarkefield and the broader Macedon Ranges are the Kulin nation, specifically the Wurundjeri, Dja Dja Wurrrung and Taungurung people, who have lived within the Macedon Ranges continually for at least 26,000 years.

We have consulted extensively with the elders to ensure heritage is respected and honoured appropriately.

Aboriginal cultural heritage surveys of the area have been completed and some Aboriginal cultural heritage items have been identified in the proposed development area. Any potential development of the area will be subject to a Cultural Heritage Management Plan and ongoing discussions with Traditional Owners.

Housing within the Macedon Ranges is characterised by decreasing affordability, a lack of rental stock and a lack of housing diversity.

An opportunity exists to build a walkable township from the ground up. The Town Centre project is envisaging between 350 and 450 homes with a range of housing types to meet the future population needs of the Macedon Ranges Shire. This includes housing for:

• First and second home buyers, including young adult couples and young families
• Affordable rental stock for working families, adult couples and lone person households
• A quota of affordable housing not currently required under the minimum planning guidelines
• Larger blocks on the edges of the township with more compact housing towards the Town Centre.