This paper explores the nature of industry and enterprise change in the context of Melbourne’s broad city region and surrounding landscapes. It seeks to determine the implications for agriculture of change in peri-urban land use, industry structures and landscapes.

Research relating to Australia’s urban planning and policy agenda is dominated by what happens in Australia’s five metropolitan cities. However the growth of Australia’s medium cities and the sources of this population growth, suggests an increasing importance for many medium-sized cities.

Population growth in the peri-urban areas to the north of Melbourne has been significant over the past two decades. This paper uses research establishing the patterns and level of new housing development in these areas to explore processes of planning, housing development and increased community risk in these regions.

Australia’s urban hierarchy of large metropolitan areas and a second level of centres with over 200,000 people create one of the world’s most urbanized countries. Australia’s urban planning agenda has understandably focussed on the major urban areas. Third level cities, those with a regional service centre function and a population of around 80 - 130,000...