Coulstock Street and the surrounding areas, including Wedge Street and Church Street, are identified in the Epping Central Structure Plan, adopted in 2023, as subject to substantial change.

With the Victorian Government also designating the precinct as part of the Epping Metropolitan Activity Centre that can play a major role in supporting Victoria’ Housing Statement, the population is expected to grow significantly in the years to come.

To ensure the precinct has the services and community infrastructure necessary to accommodate this population growth, Council is developing the Coulstock Street Place Plan.

Have your say

Council recently established the Coulstock Street Place Plan Reference Group. This group will work with Council to provide valuable insights to assist in the development of the draft Coulstock Street Place Plan.

We are also inviting broader community to share your insights, provide feedback, and offer suggestions about the Coulstock Street Precinct. This information will assist in the development of the Draft Coulstock Street Place Plan.

Have your say by adding your feedback on the map below.

What the Community Values

Participants highlighted many strengths of the area, including:

• proximity and ease of access to key services such as shops, hospitals and business centres
• multicultural food and retail offerings along High Street
• strong public transport connections and walkability
• quiet, wide streets with greenery and public art
• significant potential for future development, including mixed‑use opportunities.

Community vision for the future

Across activities, participants expressed a desire for a more connected, greener and people‑friendly precinct. Key themes included:

Better transport and connectivity

• Safer walking and cycling routes
• Improved street links, including Duffy Street and Coulstock Street
• Traffic management upgrades and clearer parking arrangements.

More parks and green spaces

• New parks, playgrounds and shaded areas
• Off‑leash dog parks
• Community gardens and native landscaping.

A vibrant public realm

• More public art, markets and cultural activities
• Attractive streetscapes with trees, seating and lighting
• Spaces for community gatherings and events.

A lively mixed‑use neighbourhood

• More housing options close to shops and services
• Mixed residential and commercial development
• A civic square or community hub.

Top community priorities - public spaces, environment and transport

From group voting, the most supported ideas included:

Natural Environment

• Multi‑use green spaces with paths, art, water play and recreation
• Vertical gardens
• Better walking connections between Houston Street and Cooper Street.

Public Spaces

• Rooftop gardens on multi‑storey buildings
• Fixing the Wedge Street ‘sand pit’
• More active and artistic public spaces.

Transport

• Improved safety at the Wedge Street intersection
• Exploring options like an overpass/monorail for north–south movement
• Additional parking solutions, including use of the former Bunnings site.

Key Challenges Identified

Participants raised several issues that need attention:

• flooding, particularly around Duffy, Coulstock and Sand Wedge Streets
• road and footpath maintenance, including potholes and incomplete infrastructure
• safety concerns, especially at night and around vacant buildings
• limited open space and lack of public toilets
• parking pressures near the station and shops.

Next Steps

We sincerely thank those community members who participated in the Coulstock Street Place Plan Community Reference Group. We appreciate the considered and valuable feedback and ideas shared, all of which will help shape and inform the development of the Coulstock Street Place Plan. A second Community Reference Group meeting will take place later this year as will broader community engagement opportunities.

Feedback captured throughout the Coulstock Street Place Plan broader community engagement may also support the development of other key Council plans, strategies and projects, contributing to the vision of making the City of Whittlesea A Place for All.