Misinformation on 20 minute neighbourhoods

Published on 06 September 2023

Council has become aware of incorrect information circulating in Monash regarding around the concept of a 20 minute neighbourhood, and technologies used by Councils in smart cities applications.

This information is not endorsed or produced by Council or Councillors and is incorrect.

The concept behind 20 minute neighbourhoods is straightforward. These neighbourhoods are designed to make sure everything you need day-to-day is close to home and that it is within a walkable distance.

The concept is for people to be able to move easily about their local neighbourhoods and find what they need close by. 

20 Minute Neighbourhoods is a policy concept of Plan Melbourne. It aligns with State policy to reduce urban sprawl and loss of productive farmland and focus on new housing and jobs in existing urban areas.

The policy concept aims to have a range of everyday needs within a walkable distance, generally 800m. In the case of Monash, this is why our Housing Strategy focuses on new housing development around stations and shopping centres. This allows more people to live closer to the services they need and reduce the impacts of more intensive residential development in leafy suburban areas.

Smart cities technology

Sometimes technology can be used to understand where there is congestion on a path or road network or an intersection.

They can also help Council improve our services for community by using sensors to notify us when a bin is full or when a drain is blocked, helping to stop litter entering waterways and flooding.

There is never any personal information or identifying information collected in these ‘smart cities’ solutions, but they do improve our neighbourhoods.