Residential development plan for Bannockburn closer

A MAJOR component of the strategy guiding growth in Bannockburn until 2050 is ready to take its next step.

Public consultation on the Bannockburn South East Precinct Structure Plan closed last month, with the Victorian Planning Authority (VPA) now considering submissions.

A total of 50 submissions had been lodged when the consultation period ended on 15 June.

If the VPA – part of the Department of Transport and Planning – is unable to resolve any issues raised by submitters, the matters will be referred to an independent panel.

“We are engaging with local communities to ensure they are involved in every step of the planning process, and we thank the community for their interest in this project,” a department spokesperson said.

“The Bannockburn South East Precinct Structure Plan is one of the 21 priority projects identified to deliver more than 60,000 homes and 60,000 jobs across Victoria.”

The VPA is preparing the structure plan in collaboration with the Golden Plains Shire Council, which nominated the precinct as a priority growth area to deliver residential development in the short term as part of its Bannockburn Growth Plan.

The structure plan will ultimately be accompanied by an amendment to the Shire’s planning scheme to allow residential development to proceed.

The VPA is aiming to have the plan finalised in the first quarter of 2026, with on-the-ground development beginning in 2027.

The precinct is located to the south-east of the existing Bannockburn township and encompasses an area of 524 hectares.

It has been earmarked to accommodate about 4685 dwellings, 13,820 residents and 750 ongoing jobs.

The precinct is bound by the existing urban area to the north, a future growth option to the east, a railway line to the south and Bruce Creek to the west.

A fully-developed precinct will feature four new schools, an activity centre, four general community facilities, three sports reserves and seven hectares of parks.

The VPA is aiming to have all new homes situated within a five-minute walk of a park.