Fair Growth Thornbury began as a grassroots initiative led by James and Sarah — two local residents determined to ensure Thornbury’s future growth is both fair and community-driven.

It is now led by a Strategy and Activities Committee of eight members, supported by a broader group of community volunteers who assist with day-to-day campaign activities.

Fair Growth Thornbury advocates for more homes, done better, and against planning reforms that are eroding liveability and democratic process.

We have grown into a community-led movement of voices united in opposition to the Activity Centre Program and related reforms that prioritise property industry profits and political expediency over people and place.

We are fighting for a better approach — one that balances housing growth with liveability while respecting communities, infrastructure, and the right for people to have a genuine say in the future of their neighbourhoods.

Our mission

Our structure

Our media appearances..

'I understand there's a housing crisis in Australia but huge high-rise apartments don't belong in my suburb and will destroy the 'village feel''

FGT was featured in a featured online in the Daily Mail relating to the Thornbury Activity Centre.

'Thornbury residents devise their own housing plan as alternative to activity centre'

FGT was featured online and in The Age regarding our proposed plans for the Thornbury Activity Centres.

FGT was featured online and in The Age regarding our opposition to the Thornbury Activity Centre Plans.

'High-rise v High Street: The battle for the soul of Thornbury'

'Liveable Victoria launched to campaign against Labor's planning reforms'

FGT was featured online by the ABC regarding the establishment of Liveable Victoria and how the State Government's plans will homogenise suburbs and exclude families.

During the Phase 2 consultation period, Fair Growth Thornbury designed and hand-delivered over 5,000 tailored flyers to homes across both the inner and outer catchments .

Fair Growth Thornbury engaged extensively with local MP Kat Theophanous — meeting in person, by phone, and through multiple written submissions

We engaged directly with the Victorian Government, including through formal correspondence and an on-street walk-through with Ministerial staff and Department planners.

Fair Growth Thornbury also engaged extensively with Darebin Council, writing to the Mayor, all Councillors and Council officers, and making both written and oral submissions at Council meetings.

What we did...

Fair Growth Thornbury also ran a targeted local business campaign, engaging directly with traders to raise awareness of the proposed changes and build support for a more balanced, place-sensitive approach to growth.

Fair Growth Thornbury pursued freedom of information access to key Activity Centre documents. Despite pressure to withdraw or narrow the request, we held firm and the Department ultimately accepted it.

Fair Growth Thornbury hosted an expert panel event at the Thornbury Picture House attended by politicians, planners, community representatives and local residents.

Fair Growth Thornbury also developed targeted petitions, amassing more than 1,400 signatures from local residents backing our position and reinforcing the depth of concern within the community.

What we are doing now

As we engaged more deeply with the Thornbury Activity Centre process, it became clear this was never just about Thornbury. It exposed a broader set of planning reforms driven by political expediency and vested interests in the property industry, at the expense of communities, democratic planning and good outcomes.

With the final Thornbury plans now released, our advocacy is entering its next phase. We are joining with other communities, experts and advocates across Victoria to challenge these reforms, push for better housing policy, and fight for a planning system that serves people and neighbourhoods, not developer profits.

At the same time, we will continue to engage locally in Thornbury, raising awareness, sharing information and keeping these issues front and centre in the lead-up to the election.

And if we win that broader fight, it will not just be a win for Thornbury. It will be a win for all of Victoria.