As Melbourne’s growth areas continue to expand, the conversation is shifting beyond roads, utilities and housing towards the social foundations that enable communities to thrive. Schools, healthcare facilities, public spaces, community services and local connections are increasingly recognised as critical forms of infrastructure, shaping liveability, wellbeing and long-term resilience. As populations grow rapidly in new suburbs, ensuring that community infrastructure keeps pace with development has become essential to creating places where people can live, work and connect.

The session will examine how growth area development can move beyond traditional approaches to deliver stronger, more inclusive and better connected communities from the outset. It will explore the role of integrated planning, cross-sector collaboration and long-term investment in creating neighbourhoods that support social cohesion and quality of life. As Melbourne continues to evolve, the discussion will consider how community infrastructure can become a central pillar of sustainable urban growth.