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Bungaree and Wallace Structure Plan

Project Overview

online community engagement

The preparation of a Structure Plan for Bungaree and Wallace is a Council Plan Action. Council commenced preparation of the Structure Plan in October 2022. The first step of this process was to prepare an Emerging Directions Paper. This paper provides an overview of the background technical documents and the existing conditions around these towns. This paper also includes emerging growth directions, areas within Bungaree and Wallace that would be most suitable for future development.

The Proposed Growth of Bungaree

There are four potential residential development areas identified in the Emerging Directions Paper for Bungaree. Combined, these areas are approx. 40 ha in size.

The Proposed Growth of Wallace

There are four potential residential development areas, and one potential employment development area identified in the Emerging Directions Paper for Wallace. Combined, these residential areas are approx. 120 ha in size. The employment area is approx. 30 ha in size and could provide for up to 300 jobs for the existing and future residents

Post Consultation Summary

Consultation was undertaken on the Emerging Directions Paper for the Bungaree and Wallace Structure Plan from 12 June 2023 to 14 July 2023. Council were seeking community feedback on the identified opportunities and constraints outlined in the Emerging Directions Paper.

The two drop-in sessions in Wallace and Bungaree in June were well attended with close to 100 people attending the sessions over the two nights. During these sessions, close to 200 comments from community members were captured and documented.

Councils Have your say page was visited close to 1,000 times during consultation, with over 500 documents downloaded in total, 62 online surveys submitted and 11 written submissions from Government Departments, Agencies and residents received. Further late submissions are continuing to be received and accepted.

Given the size of the two local communities, with around 500 residents in the two towns combined (2021 census data), the consultation has reached a large portion of the community, who have provided valuable information for this project moving forward.

Council officers are currently reviewing all information received and will prepare a consultation summary document, which will be made available later this year.

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Project Background

The Moorabool Shire Small Towns and Settlements Strategy, 2016 sets a growth framework for the Shire’s small towns and settlements. The strategy seeks to accommodate future growth, while maintaining the unique amenity of each town in the Shire. Within the Strategy, Bungaree and Wallace are identified as “Small Towns, subcategory – Consolidated growth investigation Settlements” which support a population of 50-2000 residents with access to a limited range of education and health services and a small retail centre. The Strategy notes that the lack of sewer infrastructure is a barrier to further development of the towns.

Council is exploring options for the future of Bungaree and Wallace by developing a Structure Plan. The purpose of the Structure Plan will be to resolve the on-going uncertainty and define the appropriate role for Bungaree and Wallace into the future. Integral to the process of preparing the Structure Plan will be resolution of whether each of the towns have the capacity to support growth and if so, what type of growth is appropriate.

Provision of sewer

Future growth in these towns is dependent on the connection of the towns to reticulated sewer. The Structure Plan will be a key document to facilitate further investigations into the provision of sewer. Council will continue our ongoing conversations with Central Highlands Water, working closely together to explore the possibilities to service these towns.

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FAQS

The State Governments position on growth of Bungaree and Wallace is captured within the Central Highlands Regional Growth Plan 

While this plan does not identify Bungaree and Wallace as towns where growth is supported (as it does with Ballarat, Bacchus Marsh and Ballan), it states that “The ongoing incremental development of small towns and rural settlements should not be precluded and local councils should plan to support sustainable growth and incremental change in these communities as required.” 

Through the Emerging Directions Paper, Council is investigating the incremental development of these small towns to accommodate locally appropriate population growth. Council notes that this growth is dependent on the provision of reticulated sewerage. Council will seek feedback from the State Government to ensure the Structure Planning process will remain in line with State Government policy directions.

A Structure Plan sets out the plan for a town’s future. It will identify areas that are suitable for future growth. Ultimately the role of the structure plan is to help inform the decision making process for future land use and identify where improvements can be made.

The community play an important role the development of a structure plan by sharing what you like about these towns, what you want to see improved and how much growth you want to see in the future. We gather this information using surveys, in person consultation sessions and the lodging and review of formal written submissions. The information that we receive will contribute to the overall vision and the final structure plan that will inform policies to guide the town into the future.

The final Structure Plan will include an implementation or action plan.  Implementation actions may include amendments to the Moorabool Planning Scheme, further studies or improvement works within the towns. Adopted Structure Plans are typically linked to the Council’s Strategic corporate planning that ensures a coordinated approach to implementation across multiple Council services.

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Project Lead

  • Growth and Development Team

    Moorabool Shire Council

    5366 7100