Project background

Council is working with the Ripponlea community to shape the future of the area through the Ripponlea Streetscape and Open Space Plan. Ripponlea Village has a distinctive local character shaped by compact shopping strip, heritage shopfronts, intimate pedestrian scale and close relationship with Ripponlea Station. Centred around Glen Eira Road, the village has evolved as a neighbourhood meeting place where daily shopping, hospitality, public transport, community life and local services sit side by side. Its identity is also influenced by the broader heritage setting of the area, including the nearby Rippon Lea Estate, one of Melbourne’s significant nineteenth-century mansion and garden estates, and the residential streets that frame the area.

Ripponlea is also an important place for Melbourne’s Jewish community, with cultural, spiritual and commemorative links that are visible in the everyday life of the precinct. The Adass Israel Synagogue and associated community facilities form a significant local presence, while Burnett Gray Gardens contains the Victorian Jewish War Memorial, an important place of remembrance for Victorian Jewish servicemen. These places contribute to Ripponlea’s sense of history, belonging and continuity, and highlight the need for public spaces that are respectful, inclusive and welcoming for residents, traders, visitors, families and faith communities.

The Plan explores opportunities to enhance streets, parks and public spaces across the precinct, including Burnett Gray Gardens, Glen Eira Road, Glen Eira Avenue and Oak Grove. The project aims to create safer, greener and more accessible public spaces that support social connection, active transport, biodiversity and local business vitality, while protecting and celebrating the qualities that make Ripponlea Village distinctive. This includes recognising the village’s layered heritage, strengthening connections between community destinations, supporting the renewal of important civic and cultural places, and ensuring improvements respond sensitively to the needs of the wider Ripponlea community. Feedback was also sought on how public space improvements can complement the future redevelopment of the Adass Israel Synagogue and deliver broader benefits for people who live, work, worship, visit and spend time in the area. This phase of engagement sought feedback on five design principles and a range of proposed improvements for key locations, which will help inform the final Ripponlea Streetscape and Open Space Plan.

What did we ask?

Between 1 June and 5 July 2026, we invited the community to provide feedback on the future of Ripponlea's streets, parks and public spaces. Specifically, we asked:

• How satisfied they were with the five proposed design principles for the Ripponlea Streetscape and Open Space Plan.
• How satisfied they were with proposed improvements for, Burnett Gray Gardens West, Burnett Gray Gardens East, Glen Eira Avenue South, Glen Eira Road Shopping Precinct, Oak Grove, Glen Eira Avenue North.
• How Council could balance public realm improvements with parking, traffic access, local business needs and community facilities.

What did we hear?

Community feedback showed broad support for creating a greener, safer and more attractive Ripponlea precinct. Participants generally supported increased tree planting, biodiversity improvements, upgraded public spaces, and better walking and cycling connections.

Key themes included:

• Increasing trees, shade, landscaping and biodiversity.
• Improving pedestrian, cycling and public transport connections.
• Creating safer, more accessible and welcoming public spaces.
• Supporting local businesses and strengthening village activity.
• Maintaining parking supply and vehicle access where possible.
• Managing traffic congestion and road network impacts.
• Protecting the character, heritage and identity of Ripponlea.
• Improving lighting, safety and ongoing maintenance of public spaces.
• Ensuring future improvements are practical, well maintained and supported by evidence.

Feedback on specific locations highlighted strong support for greening initiatives, biodiversity planting, urban cooling, stormwater management and improvements to Burnett Gray Gardens. Participants also supported safer pedestrian environments and better walking and cycling connections.

Some proposed traffic and parking changes generated mixed views. Concerns focused on potential parking loss, one-way traffic arrangements, impacts on local businesses, traffic congestion, access to Ripponlea Station and the Adass Israel Synagogue, and the need to maintain accessibility for all users.

Uploaded submissions reinforced support for a greener and more attractive precinct while highlighting the importance of balancing environmental improvements with safety, accessibility, parking, traffic management and long-term maintenance.

You can learn more about what we heard in the engagement report below.

What happens next?

The Engagement Report will be shared with Councillors and used to inform the development of the final Ripponlea Streetscape and Open Space Plan. Feedback received through surveys, pop-ups and written submissions will help refine the proposed improvements and identify opportunities to balance community priorities.

Council will continue to work through the feedback and investigate the feasibility of proposed actions before finalising the Plan. The community will be kept informed of project updates and future decisions through the project page on Have Your Say Port Phillip.