Country towns look to the future

THE City of Greater Bendigo is working on plans that will seek to guide the development of two country towns in the municipality for the next twenty years.

Known as township plans, and being worked on concurrently, the result will be two documents setting out a list of priorities and ideas to make the towns more “liveable and connected” in Elmore and Goornong.

City senior strategic planner Andrew Cockerall said the growth of Bendigo and surrounding areas during the pandemic triggered the need for the plans.

“We know there might be people who want to live close to Bendigo so they’ve got that regional city, but they don’t want to live in the city, so it’s that convenience of the location,” he said.

“What the township plan is about is looking at how Elmore and Goornong can grow into the future and what services, infrastructure and facilities are needed to support that growth.”

Mr Cockerall said both towns present different opportunities, with Elmore a slightly more established town and Goornong’s recent growth signified with the opening of its new train station.

“One thing they have in common is the locals love their town,” he said.

“They are quite different in that Elmore is a larger centre and has more services like shops and those type of things, whereas with Goornong it’s more about what the future opportunities are for that town to develop and to get the population in there.”

Surveys to inform the township plans close on Monday, and Mr Cockerall said the planning team will aim to keep the community as informed as possible.

“We want to understand what the community likes about where they live, what they think can be improved, what they think is missing and what it is about their town they love and want protect,” he said.

“For Elmore it might be the proximity to Campaspe River, the heritage in the town, that sort of thing.”

State Member for Bendigo East Jacinta Allan said she is “looking forward” to working with the municipality as it develops the plans.

At the opening of the new Goornong train station on Sunday, she said the growth in that town will be different to a town like Huntly, where the focus is mainly on housing developments.

“Goornong is more of a country town and I think the community will want to look at how you can maintain those country town characteristics,” she said.

“At the same time there is the opportunity in the township to have some of that housing development, there’s a lovely school here, there’s now a train station,” she said.

“It’s got great amenities for people wanting to have a bit of a country lifestyle, but still be in close proximity to the services they need.

“We’re already having conversations with the Goornong Recreation Reserve committee about what is the opportunity there. That’s another great facility in Goornong that probably needs a bit more attention and support.”

To get involved with the township plans head to letstalkgreaterbendigo.com.au.