Southern Loddon Mallee Regional Strategic Plan 1 - Macedon ...

Basis for action:
The projected growth of Melbourne to five million people before
2030 is likely to intensify population growth within our region,
particularly in Greater Bendigo, the Macedon Ranges and Mount
Alexander. Current trends show lesser growth in Central Goldfields
and Loddon Shires. Our region has strong settlement patterns
with towns nestled in the surrounding forests and agricultural
landscapes. These non-urban breaks must be protected. Detailed
capacity analysis and growth area planning for settlements is
required to protect the lifestyle that attracts so many new residents
to our region.
Our settlement patterns
Our region’s settlement patterns and character are heavily
influenced by the gold rush era. Most of our main towns, including
Bendigo, Castlemaine, Kyneton, Gisborne, Maryborough and
Wedderburn, were either important gold production areas or
key staging posts for those travelling between the goldfields
and Melbourne. The strong character of the settlements is
defined by the surrounding bush or rural landscapes which
significantly enhances their amenity. Rural residential land uses are
concentrated in and near major towns primarily on the outskirts of
Bendigo and towns along the Calder Corridor.
Existing settlement patterns are concentrated around established
towns, the metropolitan Melbourne interface, and major road
and rail transport links to Melbourne, Bendigo and Ballarat. Towns
across the region form a network connected by transport routes
and accommodate the majority of our residential, employment
and industrial land uses.
Significant areas of public land are retained for nature
conservation, forestry and other uses. Our region includes
important conservation reserves, including the Castlemaine
Diggings National Heritage Park and the Terrick Terrick and
Greater Bendigo National Parks.
These attributes contribute to a strong settlement character
with a diversity of distinct and defined townships separated
by either the surrounding bush or rural landscapes.
Population growth
In 2006 our region’s population was 175,220, representing a
growth of approximately 5,000 people since 2001. The Victorian
Government projects that our region will grow to over 233,000
people by 2026. The projected annual rate of growth (1.7%) is
almost 50% greater than the average for regional Victoria overall.
Most of the projected growth is expected to be concentrated in
Greater Bendigo, Macedon Ranges and Mount Alexander with
lower growth in Central Goldfields and a population decrease in
Loddon. The region has become a popular lifestyle alternative
to metropolitan Melbourne due to its proximity, accessibility,
and attractiveness. The improvements to the rail and road
infrastructure of the Calder Transport Corridor have also influenced
growth in the region.
Continuing to plan for future population growth and associated
urban growth is essential to retaining our region’s liveability, natural
assets and heritage character. The growth pressures in Melbourne’s
hinterland are significant. The distinct rural and bush buffers
between our settlements shall be protected and retained, and
urban sprawl prevented. Detailed settlement planning will identify
the capacity of towns for growth incorporating environmental,
physical and services opportunities and constraints. The amount
and location of urban growth must be carefully managed to avoid
the challenges that uneven distribution of population growth
would present.
The majority of anticipated growth will be accommodated in
Bendigo, the provincial centre, where there are nominated growth
areas located within an urban growth boundary. Currently all
other settlements within the region are towns and small towns
with populations of less than 10,000 people. Depending on where
growth is directed, the role and function of some of the larger
settlements may change to become district centres. Further
settlement planning will determine the preferred future role
and function of these towns and include strategies to direct and
manage growth within the region.
Capacity for growth
The capacity for expansion of many of our settlements is limited by
surrounding forest. Proximity to bushland also means that these
settlements are exposed to risk from fire. Urban expansion needs
to be carefully considered, particularly in the light of findings from
the 2009 Bushfires Royal Commission.
Macedon, Woodend and Gisborne are significant lifestyle
towns with more than 40% of their populations commuting to
Melbourne. With the recent rapid growth in population predicted
to continue, Macedon Ranges Shire are currently undertaking
detailed settlement planning to determine where to direct
population growth and the future role and function of these
settlements.
The towns of Castlemaine, Chewton, Campbells Creek, Maldon
and Newstead will be capable of meeting projected population
growth. In Harcourt, a major upgrade of the wastewater transfer
main will be required in order to cope with the projected
population growth. For the currently unsewered towns of
Elphinstone, Taradale and Guildford an innovative wastewater
management system will be necessary to accommodate the
projected growth, as the cost to connect the towns to sewer is
likely to be very high.
Maryborough has significant infrastructure and is capable of
accommodating population growth. Whilst current projections
are modest, there are strategies in place to attract residents and
promote growth of the town. Smaller towns such as Clunes
and Talbot have capacity for growth if the appropriate sewer
infrastructure is provided.
Towns in the Loddon Shire are located in Bendigo’s hinterland
and could provide alternative lifestyle opportunities to living
in the provincial centre. To facilitate such growth secure water
supplies need to be implemented in towns such as Bridgewater,
Newbridge, Inglewood and Laanecoorie.
Bendigo
Bendigo is the provincial centre servicing the broader region and
is projected to experience the highest levels of growth. As one of
Victoria’s regional cities, Bendigo is a service and employment hub
with a diversity and depth of cultural, tourism and entertainment
facilities. As the population of Greater Bendigo and our region
grows, the city must adapt to provide the necessary health,
education and employment services and infrastructure for a larger
population.
Settlement planning has been undertaken for Greater Bendigo to
identify growth areas for new housing and industrial development.
However, outward growth of the city is constrained by the
surrounding forest. The development of infill sites, higher density
housing and other urban consolidation initiatives will assist in
providing appropriate accommodation choices.
Southern Loddon Mallee Regional Strategic Plan 13