Shire shares priorities for state plan

THE State Government is calling for municipalities to make submissions highlighting priority projects for their communities as part of the Big Ideas for Victoria’s Future campaign.

Moorabool Shire CEO Derek Madden said council officers are preparing to provide feedback on what will be important to the region in the coming years.

“Council is in the process of writing a submission to Plan for Victoria, focusing on the need for balanced decision making that achieves quality social and environmental outcomes when planning for growth,” Mr Madden said.

“The submission will touch on liveability, housing targets, population growth, protecting viable agricultural land, and advocates for a unified approach to implementation that ensures community infrastructure and services are delivered in a timely manner.”

The City of Ballarat has made a submission which covers support for the need to establish a statewide planning framework that recognises the unique challenges of regional cities, housing affordability, housing supply as a critical state-wide challenge, the City’s new Housing Strategy and Growth Areas Framework Plan, the need for collaboration around affordability, a broad Victorian planning policy, guidance for regional councils, and ongoing consultation on housing targets.

On the south-west fringe of the Moorabool region is the Golden Plains Shire where municipal officers have worked with the Greater Ballarat Alliance of Councils and G21 Geelong Region Alliance to share their thoughts on what will be important to the region in the coming years.

“We have spoken about the urgent need to address enabling infrastructure to support housing growth, including community infrastructure (sporting fields, play spaces, schools etc) and trunk infrastructure (sewer, water, digital etc),” Golden Plains Shire interim CEO Michael Tudball said.

Mr Tudball said transport solutions are, and will be, essential as developments and infill housing continue to pop up across the growing shire.

“In our submission, council highlighted the importance of protecting agricultural land, ensuring its continued productivity and sustainability,” he said.

“We also stressed the need to enhance community resilience in the face of emergencies such as fire, flood and biosecurity.

“Finally, we are advocating that the planning and development processes need to be streamlined to enable certainty for councils, community and developers whilst respecting the needs and aspirations of our diverse communities.”

Submissions to Big Ideas for Victoria’s Future close today, Friday 30 August, and a new plan for Victoria is expected to be released late this year.