In short:
Wyndham City Council has released the draft Derrimut Road West Urban Design Framework, setting out plans for up to 917 new homes, shops, cafés and offices on a mixed-use precinct in Tarneit North. The plan, prepared by Urbis, includes buildings up to eight storeys, a local town heart along Middle Street and a proposed trackless tram along Derrimut Road.
Wyndham Advertiser
Tarneit set for major transformation
Wyndham City Council has released the draft Urban Design Framework for the Derrimut Road West precinct, mapping out the future of a key parcel of land in Tarneit North that could deliver up to 917 new homes, shops, cafés, offices and community spaces.
The 80-page document, prepared by planning consultants Urbis on behalf of Council, covers the land at 605–645 Derrimut Road. It sits within the Tarneit North Precinct Structure Plan area and directly opposite the future Tarneit Major Town Centre, with the Tarneit Railway Station to the south.
The framework sets out a vision for what it calls “a vibrant, high amenity urban growth precinct that incorporates mixed use and residential development, seamlessly integrated with the Tarneit Major Town Centre.”
What’s planned
The precinct will be split into six character precincts, each with its own role and character. Buildings along Derrimut Road will be allowed to reach up to eight storeys, with heights stepping down to three storeys at the western edge to provide a sensitive transition to existing low-density residential areas.
According to an economic assessment by HillPDA prepared for the framework, the precinct is expected to accommodate around 103,000 square metres of total floorspace, including 17,500 square metres of commercial space and 1,500 square metres of retail. Of the 917 dwellings, 80 per cent are expected to be apartments and 20 per cent townhouses.
A “local town heart” is proposed along Middle Street, designed as a lively neighbourhood retail strip with cafés, restaurants, shops and outdoor dining. The framework states that retail uses will be limited to the Middle Street frontage and ground floor, with shop-top housing above.
Trackless tram and active transport
The framework builds on the vision in The Wyndham Plan (2023), which envisions Derrimut Road as a tree-lined boulevard “enhanced by light rail, trackless trams or a dedicated bus rapid transit service.” A proposed trackless tram is mapped along Derrimut Road, linking the Tarneit interchange in the north with a proposed Metro line station near East Werribee.
Pedestrians and cyclists are also a key focus. A bi-directional cycling corridor is planned along Polly Parade and Derrimut Road, connecting to the railway corridor and the Tarneit Railway Station. A new north-south shared path will run through the precinct to the open space.
Sustainability and tree canopy
The plan sets a minimum 25 per cent tree canopy coverage target for streets and 35 per cent for car parks, in line with Wyndham City’s City Forest and Habitat Strategy 2017–2040.
Other sustainability requirements include rainwater harvesting for re-use, water-sensitive urban design treatments such as rain gardens and swales, and provision for future electric vehicle charging infrastructure in off-street car parking areas.
Staged delivery
The framework acknowledges that development will happen progressively over time, depending on market demand and infrastructure delivery. Four critical drivers will shape the staging: the new intersection at Polly Parade and Derrimut Road, the ultimate layout of Derrimut Road, the new intersection at Middle Street and Derrimut Road, and the development of the residential catchment to the west.
In the meantime, the framework supports “meanwhile uses” — temporary activations such as cafés, co-working spaces, markets, pop-up villages and community hubs — to keep sites active until permanent development takes shape.
What it means for Wyndham
The Derrimut Road West precinct is one of several major projects shaping the future of Tarneit, alongside the Tarneit Major Town Centre across Derrimut Road. With the City of Wyndham set a housing target of 99,000 dwellings under Plan for Victoria (2025), precincts like Derrimut Road West are central to delivering housing close to jobs, transport and services.
The draft framework is the next step before any planning permits can be issued for development on the land. Once approved, future planning permit applications will need to demonstrate they are generally in accordance with the framework.
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