Community invited to help shape the future look and feel of Emerald and Gembrook town centres
Published: 20 May 2026
Cardinia Shire Council is inviting community members to share their experiences and what they value about Emerald and Gembrook town centres as part of a new Urban Design Assessment.
Council, together with external consultants will engage with the community using a place-based approach, to better understand how the town centres are currently used and how they could change in the future.
Emerald and Gembrook are two of Cardinia Shire’s large rural townships, known as the ‘Hill’s Towns’. They offer rural scenery and relaxed experiences with cafés, local shops, markets, farm gates and art spaces to explore.
The engagement will gather community feedback on how the town centres look and feel, including how easy they are to move around, their character and identity, how comfortable they are to visit, the quality of public spaces, and the surrounding urban environment.
The findings will inform the Urban Design Assessment and include recommendations to improve future urban design outcomes that help ensure the town centres remain viable. This work will also support a future review of each township strategy, helping guide planning decisions, supporting controlled growth and keeping the centres accessible and attractive for residents, local businesses and visitors.
Community members will have the opportunity to share their ideas during the consultation period Wednesday 20 May to Sunday 28 June and at the following events.
How to get involved:
- Complete the online survey.
- Take part in in-person interviews in the town centres:
- Sunday 24 May 2026 at Gembrook Community Market
- Monday 25 May 2026 in Gembrook town centre
- Attend a guided walk session through Emerald’s town centre, on Saturday 13 June 2026, from 10-11am. Meet outside the Emerald Post Office
To learn more, visit www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/haveyoursay