Councillors will next week consider the adoption of the proposed Marong Township Structure Plan and Planning Scheme Amendment C263gben.
Planning Amendment C263gben has been prepared to implement the Marong Township Structure Plan 2020 and the Marong Flood Study 2018.
The land affected is within and adjacent to the township of Marong and the proposed Amendment C263gben includes:
- Making several rezoning changes to land within and adjoining the existing township, including from the Township Zone to more specific residential and commercial zones
- Applying the Heritage Overlay, Design and Development Overlay, Development Plan Overlay and Flood Overlays to land within the township and the surrounding area
- Inserting a local area policy for Marong with strategies to achieve the outcomes sought by the Marong Township Structure Plan and to identify four future residential growth precincts to the east, west and south of the township
- Amending existing local policy relating to activity centre classification and commercial floor areas, floodplain management and the walking and cycling network
- Amending operational provisions to introduce incorporated and background documents, new map pages and revise further strategic work clauses to reflect the work undertaken as part of this amendment.
This proposed Planning Amendment C263gben was considered at an independent planning panel (Panel) which reviewed the recommendations made by the City of Greater Bendigo in response to 34 submissions from developers, landholders, and authorities.
The issues raised in the submissions and heard by the Panel related to specific issues that can be categorised as follows: new growth precinct boundaries, infrastructure provision, bushfire setbacks, introduction of the proposed Heritage Overlay to specific sites, terminology, and name changes.
Overall, the Panel was complimentary about the City’s preparation work for the Marong Township Structure Plan and Amendment. Most changes proposed and recommended by the City were supported with a few minor changes from the Panel.
- Amend the new proposed Local policy for Marong in the Planning Scheme
- Amend the Overlay controls proposed for bushfire setbacks to allow demonstration by an applicant the required Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) can be achieved with reduced setback
- Support changes to heritage citations based on expert evidence and support the application of the Heritage Overlay to the two places submissions were received
- Amend the Marong Township Structure Plan to ensure the proposed Marong Western Freight Corridor and Bendigo Regional Employment Precinct are considered in the planning and design of new growth areas Precincts 1 and 2 (see map)
- Amend the Marong Township Structure Plan to require the preparation of an odour risk assessment to satisfaction of Council and the Environmental Protection Authority, in relation to new growth area Precinct 1
- Amend the Marong Township Structure Plan to require preparation of an Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment prior to rezoning growth areas
City Director Strategy and Growth Rachel Lee said the proposed Marong Township Structure Plan and Amendment are the first in a series of proposed amendments to support future growth in Marong.
“Marong is expected to grow over the next 25 years with an estimated population of 8,000 people,” Ms Lee said.
“This is a long term plan for future urban development in Marong. It describes how the land is expected to be developed, and how and where services are planned to support development. These proposals support planning for a growing community in a timely manner.”
Any future rezoning amendments from landowners or developers for the new growth areas would still be subject to a separate public notification and consultation process as they occur.
Other projects relating to Marong include:
- The preparation of a Development Contributions Framework for Marong
- Planning for the Bendigo Regional Employment Precinct by the Victorian Planning Authority
- Planning for the Marong Western Freight Corridor by the Department of Transport and Planning – Transport
- The rezoning of the residential growth precincts in accordance with the City’s Private Planning Scheme Amendment Policy
If Council adopts the Marong Township Structure Plan and Amendment next week, the next step is to seek approval from the Minister for Planning.
The full report is available on the Council meeting agenda: