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

Priority actions:
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
Further upgrade the Calder Freeway to improve access to Melbourne as outlined in the 2009 State submission
to Infrastructure Australia. Identify and support intraregional rail and bus public transport improvements and
coordination, and public transport access to Melbourne, to support employment and education.
Support Coliban Water in the review and renewal of long term supply and demand strategies to meet future
settlement planning needs as identified by the Regional Settlement Framework (Priority Action 1.1).
Improve broadband access, take up and telecommunications infrastructure across the region to improve
accessibility, reduce social disadvantage and achieve competitiveness as a place for business, in particular by
facilitating the development of the National Broadband Network in our towns and across our region.
Undertake a strategic analysis of regional energy needs and develop an energy demand management action plan
to inform business cases for future infrastructure development and encourage efficient energy use.
Key initiatives:
4.5
Complete an audit of time and spatial coverage of all regional public transport modes to identify gaps, overlaps
and efficiency opportunities.
Coordinate public transport timetables and establish transport hubs to improve travel times and increase
3
4.6 patronage – seek funding to trial more regional bus services to improve connectivity between small towns and
regional transport hubs.
3
4.7
Obtain funding for the upgrade of Bendigo airport for the continuation of emergency services usage and to
support commercial air service operations.
Resource the Transport Connections across the region to increase access and mobility within and between
3
communities in order to increase access for residents of small towns to community services, health, employment
4.8 and education in larger centres - through more efficient use of current non-public transport and community
resources and development of innovative new non-public transport and non-transport solutions that facilitate
transport use.
3
4.9 Construct the Calder highway / Calder Alternate Highway interchange. 3
4.10
Investigate the need and possible location of an intermodal logistics hub and Business Park within the Loddon
Mallee region.
3
4.11
Improve mobile coverage in the region, including the provision of mobile phone and wireless broadband services
on Bendigo-Melbourne train services.
3
4.12
Use broadband connectivity to enhance access to services and address labour shortages/skill gaps with a focus
on the health and education sectors.
3
4.13
Advocate to the National Broadband Network to broaden regional connections across the region, including the
Calder and Loddon Valley Highway corridors, particularly to support towns with populations of under 1000. 3
4.14 Secure the next stage of investment in NVIRP for water efficiency for the agricultural industry. 3
4.15
Advocate for reconfiguration and/or modernisation of Coliban Water’s rural channel system to achieve better
water efficiency.
3
4.16
Invest in infrastructure that improves water quality to towns and settlements whose supplies do not currently
meet Australian drinking water quality standards.
Develop agreed criteria with irrigation communities for future environmental water buy-back initiatives and
3
4.17 coordinate them with irrigation infrastructure upgrades and community adjustment initiatives that recognise
potential social impacts on communities.
3
4.18
Develop initiatives to support on-farm water infrastructure upgrades on properties connecting to upgraded
irrigation supply systems.
3
4.19
Identify water requirements and approaches for efficient environmental water provision of priority water
dependent ecosystems.
3
4.20
Develop a small towns sewerage plan to accelerate the implementation of small towns sewerage solutions, which
will be informed by the regional settlement framework planning.
3
4.21
Encourage initiatives that deliver water savings and use of recycled water in the region to reduce pressures on
potable water supplies.
3
4.22
Support innovation in renewable energy, improvements in energy efficiency and energy offset initiatives to
reduce the carbon footprint of our manufacturing sector.
3
Undertake review of time and spatial coverage of school, community, town, bus and inter-town bus services at
4.23 transport hubs in the region, to identity opportunities to increase transport connections across different transport
modes and improve travel times.
3
28 Southern Loddon Mallee Regional Strategic Plan
STRaTegIC DIReCTION 4
Horizon (years)
1-5 >5
3
3
3
3
Horizon (years)
1-5 >5