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Policies and initiatives
> Direction 4. A more prosperous
city > Policy 4.4
Policy 4.4 – Create opportunities for
innovation and the knowledge economy within existing and emerging
industries, research and education
Achieving growth in jobs, and creating wealth and
higher living standards, depend on knowledge creation and the innovation
that results from it.
Melbourne 2030 supports the development
of an innovation economy by encouraging the expansion and development
of logistics and communications infrastructure. It will support
the development of business clusters, and work to help approval
processes for industry sectors and developments targeted under the
Government’s Innovation Economy policy. It will also promote
a physical environment that is conducive to innovation and to creative
activities.
Successful innovation economies depend on society
as a whole being more creative, from large companies and government
departments to individuals. This includes having a robust arts and
culture sector.
Figure 36. Selected economic clusters and precincts
- click for more detail
Improved access to training, undertaken
to upgrade skills or for personal development and lifelong learning,
will increase creative capacity. It will improve employment prospects
and could lead to the development of new businesses.
Institutions such as the Centre for
Adult Education and the public library system already do much to
provide low-cost learning and access to information. However, more
can be done to smooth the path from creativity to business or artistic
application, such as helping provide premises where new small businesses,
not-for-profit training and cultural organisations can become established.
Not-for-profit enterprises could play
a bigger role in providing training for technical and artistic skills
development.
Infrastructure that helps people to
be innovative and creative, learn new skills and start new businesses
will be encouraged in order to provide income, create jobs, improve
wellbeing and support the innovation economy. Premises for these
activities need to be low-cost and accessible, so they should be
located in activity centres and near good public transport. Local
councils will play a strong role as they are attuned to the needs
of their communities and the availability of community facilities
suitable for multiple use. In addition, innovative means will be
sought to provide funding for this accommodation.
Access to tertiary education facilities
will be improved by concentrating new facilities around existing
campuses. New campuses in outer suburbs will be located close to
Principal and Major Activity Centres or as part of Specialised Activity
Centres.
Initiatives
| 4.4.1 |
Use planning measures and infrastructure to
improve the performance of existing and emerging business clusters,
and update relevant guidelines and the Victoria Planning Provisions |
| 4.4.2 |
Amend where needed the business and industrial
zones in planning schemes to provide for the essential needs
of the production economy while not undermining the intent of
activity centre policy in Melbourne 2030 |
| 4.4.3 |
Increase business/university links around Monash
University and the Synchrotron site to take advantage of proposed
improvements to public transport and the area’s development
as a Specialised Activity Centre |
| 4.4.4 |
Help local councils to provide well-located,
appropriate and low-cost premises for not-for-profit or start-up
enterprises |
| 4.4.5 |
Increase levels of government support for not-for-profit
organisations engaged in training programs when funds become
available |
| 4.4.6 |
Improve access to community-based information
and training through further developing libraries as community
learning centres |
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