The population of Greater Bendigo is growing, with over 2,000 new residents every year. The City needs a plan to make room for these new people and their homes while maintaining existing neighborhoods. We need to think about things like jobs, services, transportation, and the environment. The Strategy will include a 30 year residential framework plan. Please follow the project to be kept up to date.

We need to consider a range of factors when determining areas for growth in Greater Bendigo. Development needs to happen in suitable parts of the region that are close to employment opportunities, services, community infrastructure and transport, current and future access to services, transport and job opportunities. The draft strategy will also have to consider growing environmental risks such as bushfires and floods and the importance of open space, places of cultural and heritage significance, agriculture and industry. The existing Urban Growth Boundary will also be reviewed under the strategy.

Thank you to community members who provided feedback on the Draft Issues and Opportunities Paper at the start of 2022.

As part of community consultation in 2022, the City also called for expressions of interest from landowners for land that could be suitable for rezoning for future residential development.

Thank you to all the landowners who took the time to contribute to this EOI process. The City plans to get in touch with all those who lodged EOIs once all the background documents have been received. This will enable the City to make an assessment on potential land for residential zoning and plan.