The Melbourne 2030 Urban Planning Reference Group (formerly known as the Melbourne 2030 Councillor Reference Group) is a group consisting of Councillors and Council Officers that is developing a local government wide approach for the Melbourne 2030 audit.

Given that Melbourne 2030 has wide reaching ramifications for local councils it is imperative that the local government sector is actively involved in the audit process to provide a fair assessment of the progress of Melbourne 2030 against its stated objectives.

Currently the State Government has shifted too much of the burden onto local government, resulting in increased costs to councils, such as the time and money required to create structure plans for activity centres. The State Government must complement these activities through ensuring that it provides targeted investment for activity centres, such as funding the much needed redevelopment of Ringwood Station.