New planning rules okayed

MAJOR change is in the works for the City of Greater Bendigo’s planning scheme with the first of three amendments adopted recently.

Director of strategy and growth Bernie O’Sullivan said the changes made to the municipal planning strategy and local policies within the Victorian planning policy framework will make them easier for the public to read and understand.

“This amendment is the result of years of work, and it means residents now have a clearer, shorter and more up to date document to guide planning and development in Greater Bendigo,” he said.

“This makes the planning scheme much easier for the community to use and will lead to more efficient and consistent decision making.”

The revisions also include policy recommendations from previously adopted documents by council like the rural areas strategy and Greater Bendigo public space plan.

The edits make significant cuts to what the City describes as repetitive and unnecessary content, bringing the word count down by 57,000 words to now total just 20,000.

Council’s review into the planning scheme began in 2017 and was adopted two years later, and the remaining two amendments are expected to be introduced later this year.