Introducing BCG
— Independent — Community-led — Non-partisan —
Boroondara Community Group (BCG) is a grassroots community group of local residents from across Boroondara concerned about housing and planning changes.
Since its formation, BCG has established a strong community presence through FaceBook, Instagram, this website, regular email updates and the hand delivery of more than 30,000 information flyers by volunteers.
BCG works closely with the Boroondara Heritage Group and is a member of the Liveable Victoria alliance, a network of community groups across Melbourne advocating for better planning outcomes.
BCG is not affiliated with any political party. It is an entirely volunteer-run community group that began around a kitchen table and continues to be powered by local residents.
BCG supports additional housing in appropriate locations. Our concern is not with growth itself, but with ensuring that planning is transparent, evidence-based and delivers well-designed neighbourhoods that will serve future generations.
We believe Melbourne can accommodate future growth while protecting the qualities that make our neighbourhoods liveable. Our aim is to encourage informed discussion and advocate for planning that balances housing needs with liveability, environmental sustainability, heritage, infrastructure and community wellbeing.
Our mission
BCG was established to:
- Raise awareness within the local community about housing and planning changes, particularly the Activity Centres Program and ResCode changes, while recognising that people hold a range of views.
- Advocate for better planning — planning for growth that is council-led, evidence-based and genuinely consultative, involving all relevant stakeholders, including heritage experts, while delivering new housing that retains the qualities that make Boroondara a place people love to live.
What we support
BCG supports planning that is:
- Evidence-based and transparent.
- Genuinely consultative and accountable.
- Respectful of heritage and neighbourhood character.
- Protective of tree canopy, gardens and climate resilience.
- Focused on liveability and community wellbeing.
- Committed to balanced and sustainable housing outcomes.
Working together
BCG is proud to be a member of the Liveable Victoria alliance, working with community groups across Melbourne to advocate for better planning outcomes.
Learn more about Liveable Victoria →
Our advocacy in action
Since its formation, BCG has actively represented the interests of its members through engagement with government, Parliament, councils, the media and the wider community.
Highlights of our advocacy include:
- Initiating support for the sponsorship of a Parliamentary Petition. The petition attracted more than 5,000 signatures and was tabled in the Legislative Council, triggering a parliamentary debate calling on the Government to cease the Activity Centres Program and recommence discussions with local councils and communities.
- Lobbying for a disallowance motion to be moved in the Legislative Council in 2025. This resulted in the Greens and Legalise Cannabis convening a Legislative Council Inquiry into the Activity Centres and ResCode reforms.
- Advocacy encouraging Members of Parliament to introduce a second Legislative Council disallowance motion in relation to the Activity Centres Program and Mid-Rise Code, followed by advocacy for parliamentary support (2026).
- Submission to the Legislative Council Inquiry into the Activity Centres and ResCode reforms (Read our submission).
- Appearance as a witness before that Inquiry alongside three other community groups (Read transcript).
- Submission to the Legislative Council Inquiry into Community Consultation Practices (Read our submission).
- Extensive liaison with Boroondara Council.
- Extensive liaison with Victorian political parties, including members of the crossbench.
- Liaison with the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) throughout consultation processes.
- Presentations at local planning and housing forums.
- Collaboration with community organisations across Melbourne through the Liveable Victoria alliance.
- Interview on the ABC 7.30 Report (February 2025).