August 2025 update
Thank you to everyone who provided their submission regarding the Stage 3 community consultation on the Draft Concept Design for the future use of Hallkeeper Lane. This consultation has now closed. You can view the Community Consultation report here.
Council has now considered community feedback and will incorporate the following aspects in the next stage of design:
- Council will work further with local traders regarding heating in the laneway and environmentally friendly options available to them
- Astroturf will be removed from the design
- Council will review bike parking in the vicinity to understand the overall demand
- Increased planting will be incorporated in the design
- Existing murals will be reviewed in line with Council’s Igniting Creativity Strategy
May 2025 update
A Draft Concept Design has been developed for the future use of Hallkeeper Lane, and we have heard from you.
The upgraded lane will offer a welcoming community space that balances outdoor dining, leisure, and pedestrian movement in a family-friendly setting.
Image credits: For full image credits click on the 'draft concept plan' link above.
Key features as shown on the above Concept Design include:
- Long benches, offer flexible seating arrangement for outdoor dining during restaurant hours
- Plantar boxes with integrated seating
- Seating/play mounds
- An interactive ground mural
Council sought community feedback about:
- Ways people were using the existing Hallkeeper Lane space
- How satisfied people were with the way the space was proposed to be used in the Draft Concept Design
- How people intended to use the newly designed space
- Peoples' thoughts on the existing murals in the space and the overall look and feel of the Design
April 2025 update
Thank you to everyone who provided their submission regarding the Stage 2 community consultation on the proposal to permanently close Hallkeeper Lane to vehicular traffic. This consultation has now closed, with summary findings available here. On 29th April 2025, Council endorsed the proposal to proceed with permanently closing Hallkeeper Lane to vehicular traffic.
Background
Hallkeeper Lane is opposite Moonee Ponds Train Station between Margaret Street and Des Nunan Car Park. Since late 2022, Hallkeeper Lane has been closed to vehicular traffic for activation and outdoor dining purposes to support local businesses. The temporary closure of the lane resulted in new outdoor dining areas, a small pocket park and a safe pedestrian link to the car park and beyond.
In October 2023 and January 2025, Council undertook community consultations on the space to gauge community sentiment and test the viability of a permanent closure of the laneway. Overall, the community were strongly supportive of continuing the closure and retaining the laneway as a community space. You can read the full findings from these consultations in the 2023 and 2025 Community Consultation reports.
In light of this community support, Council endorsed the proposal to make this current pedestrian area permanent and:
- install permanent barriers at either end of the laneway, as shown on the image below.
- undertake future improvements to create a vibrant community space that includes greenery and seating. A Draft Concept Design was brought to the community for consultation in mid 2025.
Please note:
- the barriers at the eastern end of the laneway have been set back from the corner to ensure continued access to the two car spaces at the rear of 12 Margaret Street.
- the barriers can be removed for emergency and maintenance purposes.
