The Bannockburn Growth Plan has been incorporated into the Golden Plains Planning Scheme (the Scheme), following approval by the Minister for Planning.
Planning Scheme Amendment C94 (Bannockburn Growth Plan) was formally incorporated into the Scheme today after notification in the Victorian Government Gazette.
The Bannockburn Growth Plan (the Growth Plan) guides the sustainable growth of Bannockburn to the year 2050, catering for 18,000 new residents. The Growth Plan identifies where and when future housing will be developed. It also identifies what infrastructure is needed to support the growing community, such as roads, community facilities, and land for employment and retail.
The Victorian Planning Authority (VPA) prepared the Growth Plan in consultation with Golden Plains Shire Council, government agencies and the community. The VPA is the Victorian Government’s specialist authority for land use and infrastructure planning in growing urban areas across the state.
Community members were invited to provide input on the Growth Plan at two stages during the development of the document and Planning Scheme Amendment. In March 2020, the VPA heard from 394 survey respondents on their priorities for the town’s future, and a further 39 written submissions during the feedback period on the Growth Plan and Draft Planning Scheme Amendment in October and November 2020.
The Growth Plan is part of the VPA – Fast Track Program, part of the Victorian Government’s response to the COVID-19 crisis. Under the program, the project used the VPA Projects Standing Advisory Committee to consider unresolved matters from the public consultation period and provide advice to the Minister and the VPA prior to Ministerial approval of the amendment.
The approved Growth Plan and Amendment C94 are available at the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning’s website: planning.vic.gov.au/schemes-and-amendments/browse-amendments
Mayor Cr Helena Kirby welcomed the Minister’s approval and formal gazettal of the Growth Plan.
“Council is pleased that the Bannockburn Growth Plan has now been incorporated into the Shire’s planning scheme, following a lot of hard-work from the Victorian Planning Authority, and input from Council and our community.
“The Growth Plan is a really important strategic document that will guide the development of our Shire’s largest town, and ensure community infrastructure, retail, housing, public transport, industrial land and sustainable water use is all adequately considered ahead of the development process.
“Bannockburn is our Shire’s largest town, and we know more and more people are looking to move to the town and Golden Plains Shire, and while this plan caters to future residents, it is also about the existing residents, and I’m thrilled so many locals provided their input in the two consultation processes last year.”
The VPA will now work with key stakeholders, agencies and the community to prepare a Precinct Structure Plan (PSP) for the South East Precinct identified in the Grow Plan. The PSP will result in the rezoning of land in readiness for subdivision and development.