This Concept Plan will contribute to creating a more vibrant, safe and accessible High Street.

Please note, the delivery of the concept plan is subject to additional grant funding.

High Street Preston Streetscape Upgrade is a separate project to the Victorian Government’s Preston (High Street) Activity Centre Plan, which aims to create more homes in the Preston Activity Centre.

This is a summary of the key highlights from the community engagement during stage two of the project.

Following endorsement of the Concept Plan we will undertake the following steps:

• Prepare detailed engineering and landscape construction drawings.
• The Chief Executive Officer will attempt to identify, advocate and apply for State and/or Federal partnership funding opportunities to deliver the High Street Streetscape upgrade project where requirements for leveraging funding is within Council’s current 4 Year Capital Works Program budget.
• Identify through a community survey what infrastructure or other improvements would encourage visitors to the High Street Precinct to shift to active transport for their journeys.
• Commence the process to reduce the speed limit to 30km/h along High Street between Murray Road and Bell Street.
• Start the formal process to remove the clearways along High Street between Murray Road and Bell Street.
• Commence construction of the High Street streetscape subject to securing additional grant funding.

Thank you to everyone who provided feedback and participated in the Stage 1 Community Engagement from 13 March to 6 April 2025. The consultation sought to better understand what local residents, businesses and visitors value about High Street.

Please see the engagement summary below or view the full Community Engagement report.

Help us transform High Street Preston

High Street will face rapid population growth over the next couple of decades which will change the way it is used and experienced.

High Street, from Bell Street to Murray Road, has been identified as a priority for a road upgrade through our annual road rehabilitation program. This will involve a complete road reconstruction, including replacing the old road base, upgrading the kerbs, and installing new footpaths.

This presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the High Street environment, and we want your ideas to reimagine what it could look like. We want to understand your priorities for making High Street safer and more accessible for all members of Darebin’s diverse and changing community into the future.

Earlier this year, we worked with you to shape the draft Concept Plan. The Plan proposes safer crossings, wider footpaths, greener spaces and more places for outdoor dining. To deliver these improvements, we are proposing some changes, including the removal of clearways and dropping the speed to 30 km/h.

High Street Preston Streetscape Upgrade is a separate project to the Victorian Government’s Preston (High Street) Activity Centre Plan, which aims to create more homes in the Preston Activity Centre.