It was a point that was repeatedly made at two recent forums which were facilitated by the site's developer VicUrban.

On October 22, representatives from key business groups met in Essendon to share their vision for the 128-hectare former explosives site that faces Canning Street.

Ideas raised included starting a night market, setting up a bicycle sharing system, increasing activities on the Maribyrnong River through things such as water taxis and creating a business incubator to increase employment opportunities in the region.

The idea of more river crossings was controversial, with a developer in attendance saying it was essential there were more road connections to the site, which has 400metres of road frontage and threekilometres of river frontage. "If you look at the map it's landlocked. You're not going to go into that land unless there's something there that attracts people or you can drive through it," Saracen's Geoff Morley said.

But Moonee Valley councillor Ange Kenos said his city would only support more river crossings for pedestrians and cyclists, saying: "If there's one more car bridge it will be over our municipality's dead body."

Key requests from those attending the forum were:

High sustainable building standards being set from the beginning.

Including a main street that provides the area with 'a hub'.

Basing community clubs there.

Addressing a shortage of public transport.

LeadWest chief executive Anton Mayer said the site could become "an iconic development of the west".

Robert Stubbs, who was representing the Western Bulldogs, said it was an opportunity to provide the western suburbs with things it did not have "rather than more of the same".

Earlier this month, a session was held in Maribyrnong for community groups and key stakeholders. Maribyrnong Residents Association secretary Alan Ross said the main themes of that session was preserving the river environment, creating open space, using heritage buildings and building a primary school.

VicUrban has also been seeking feedback at an information display in Highpoint shopping centre and through feedback forms available on its website www.vicurban.com.au

These views will be collated and presented at a community forum tomorrow. To register, call 8317 3400.