The Merton Plan

The redrafted Merton Plan is here! The redrafted plan considers feedback from the community and includes priorities such as improving paths and access, protecting green spaces, and enhancing community facilities. The plan will be open for public consultation before being submitted for adoption by Council. Residents, businesses, and community groups are encouraged to provide feedback on the plan via the Engage Mansfield website before April 21.

We're creating a series of structure plans that define the future development, character and layout of towns across the Mansfield Shire in consultation with the communities in each area.

The Merton Community Group has already begun their community planning process. We're now engaging directly with the community so they can learn more about the plan and share with us their aspirations for the future growth of their town. The Merton Plan will formalise these views so Council has strategic direction that can be incorporated into the Mansfield Planning Scheme.

The plan will set out the future of Merton for the next 20 years, providing certainty to the community, landowners, visitors, and Council about future land uses, developments, facilities, and character within the town. It will also assist in strengthening funding applications for the future development of the town.

The Merton Community Plan so far

The current plan prepared by the Merton Community Group denotes 4 key elements. These include safety, health & wellbeing, connection and environment to promote and enhance the resilience of the Merton community. Within the 4 key elements there are specific actions as follows:

Safety

• Bike / Walking bridge over Merton Creek
• Bike / Walking crossing to rail trail at Strathbogie Road
• Redevelop VLine Bus Stop and incorporate Merton School Bus Stop
• Upgrades to the Merton Common (eg: fencing around the common)
• Additional CFA Fire Safety Sessions
• Strathbogie-Merton Road intersection with Maroondah Highway

Health & Wellbeing

• Learning Sessions — ”How to…”
• Healthy Living initiatives - exercise classes, nutritional classes, first aid
• Crafting Sessions—timber, metal, sewing, knitting
• Men’s Shed
• Public Toilet upgrade at the Recreation Reserve
• Skate Park at Recreation Reserve
• Soccer Club

Connection

• Enhanced community services (eg: distillery, café, meeting places)
• Tourism signage upgraded
• History of Merton displayed for visitors
• A calendar of local events published online and at the Service Station (eg: Christmas Carols, Concerts, Film Nights)
• Movie nights
• Mobile Library visit
• Mansfield School bus stop route redirected to include Merton
• Live Music sessions
• Community Clearance Sale

Environment

• Weed management to protect and conserve remnant vegetation
• Native planting links for fauna
• Taungurung Native Garden and Botanic Garden
• Renovate bore at the Recreation Reserve

The above key initiatives, and the ideas put forward by the broader community, will be incorporated into the Merton Plan. The plan will be adopted by Council and the structural elements formalised in the planning scheme.