Major development and infrastructure projects

Learn about the Council’s advocacy priorities, development and infrastructure projects that support the economic growth and prosperity of your community and the Northern Region.

We invite local business to join us in advocating for key priorities to build our regional economy. Contact our Investment Attraction department for a confidential discussion at [email protected] or call 03 9217 2170.

Melbourne Food Innovation and Export Hub

We are working to promote the Melbourne Food Innovation and Export Hub (MFIX) in Epping as a transformational project for Melbourne’s north. We believe this project will position the City of Whittlesea and Victoria as a food hub of national significance, creating an incentive for a key anchor tenant to in turn attract innovative food manufacturing and export businesses.

Beveridge Intermodal Freight Terminal

Beveridge Intermodal Freight Terminal (BIFT) is a transformational project for Victoria. The project is significant as both a long-term freight terminal and a key future employment area.

We invite businesses to work with us to advocate for improved infrastructure connections to unlock the potential of this area, for the benefit of businesses and the wider community. Strengths of this area include:

strategically located to maximise connections to the domestic rail line, Hume Freeway and the proposed E6/Outer Metropolitan Ring Road

Over 1,000 hectares of land identified for the BIFT and associated freight and logistics.

Find out more

Major roads

We are calling for major improvements to Victorian State Government-managed major roads to increase capacity and reduce traffic congestion.

Other important priorities in the field of traffic policy are:

Craigieburn Road duplication between Epping Road and Hume Freeway

Donnybrook Road duplication between Epping Road and Merri Creek

Epping Road duplication between Craigieburn Road East and Bridge Inn Road

Declare and duplicate Findon Road between Plenty Road and Epping Road

Declare and duplicate Bridge Inn Road between Plenty Road and Wellington Street.

Better public transport

Our public transportation priorities include:

delivery of a railway line to Wollert

extension of tram line 86 from University Hill to the Plenty Valley Town Centre

improved and expanded bus services and frequencies.

Download factsheets

Beveridge Intermodal Freight Terminal Fact Sheet(PDF, 4MB)

Melbourne Food Innovation and Export Hub Fact Sheet(PDF, 4MB)

Learn more about our advocacy priorities

Plan for the Thomastown industrial area

The Thomastown Industrial Area has become a sought-after business hub. To build on this success and promote employment growth, we have developed the Thomastown Industrial Area Plan.

This strategic document promotes a long-term vision for the Thomastown industrial area. It focuses on actions to inform a range of projects that support our economic development strategy.

Find out more about the Thomastown Industrial Area Plan

Plenty Valley Structural Plan

Plenty Valley Town Centre contains several key business, retail, community and transport activities. These include Westfield Plenty Valley and South Morang Train Station, both of which serve the wider region. It is also recognised by the Victorian State Government as a Major Activity Centre.

The Plenty Valley Town Centre Structure Plan is a key project in preparing our vision for the town centre. It provides a framework for the development of the town centre over the next 20 years.

Find out more about the Plenty Valley Structural Plan

Center of Mernda

Mernda Town Centre is a large activity centre located on the corner of Plenty and Bridge Inn Road, next to Mernda Train Station.

Phase 1 of the development, consisting of 7,900 m² for retail space includes a supermarket, specialty shops, food and beverage outlets and a temporary library facility.

The development will ultimately provide community amenities including:

Whittlesea Community Hospital (under construction)

a library/community center facility

additional retail and commercial development

housing

improvements to the public realm, including a town square and the Mayfield Farm heritage site.

Read the Mernda strategic plan

Cooper Street West

The Cooper Street West employment area (including the Cooper Street South West and O’Herns Road areas) offers significant opportunities for future industrial investment.

Cooper Street’s role as a major waste and resource recovery hub for the state has been identified in the Statewide Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Plan (SWWRRIP). This area will continue to serve the local community and support initiatives to improve recycling and waste management. Industrial opportunities are also available.

The O’Herns Road Logistics Park offers significant industrial development opportunities with direct access to the Hume Freeway via the O’Herns Road interchange. Other industrial development opportunities in the area include 4Ten Epping and 481 Cooper Street.

The following main roads are currently being modernized.

Duplication of Epping Road – Memorial Avenue to Craigieburn Road, Epping/Wollert (scheduled for completion in 2025)

Urbanization and duplication of Bridge Inn Road – Plenty Road to Yan Yean Road, Mernda/Doreen (scheduled completion 2025)

Discover our road and public transport plan

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