The Greater Bendigo City Council will next week be asked to consider the draft Marong Township Structure Plan and commence a planning scheme amendment to implement the first stage.
Marong is expected to grow over the next 25 years, to reach an estimated population of 8,000 people. The plan establishes a planning framework for the township's future.
The township plan identifies four future residential growth areas to the west, south and east of the existing township. This land will be rezoned in stages, led by land developers when the land is needed for residential purposes.
The plan identifies essential infrastructure to support the town's growth, including new roads, upgraded intersections, shared paths, drainage basins and public open spaces.
These items will be included in an accompanying Development Contributions Plan, to be adopted later.
The plan also identifies an investigation area for a potential industrial business park, to the south-west of the Marong township.
In June, Council adopted the Greater Bendigo Industrial Land Development Strategy which highlighted the urgent need for land for a future business park/s due to a significant shortage of industrial land.
City Director Strategy and Growth Bernie O'Sullivan said the plan would assist Council to plan and deliver services and facilities for the Marong community in the coming years.
"The plan also identifies a potential site that would be well-suited for a business park, located close to transport networks, providing jobs for a growing community, and with minimal impacts on residents," Mr O'Sullivan said.
"We are currently in discussions with the landowners about their intentions for the land, however, we are looking at a number of sites across the municipality to meet future industrial land needs and this site is among those under consideration.
"Significantly expanding our industrial land will be critical to retain and increase jobs and businesses in Greater Bendigo. A small number of potential sites were identified as part of the development of the Industrial Land Development Strategy and which Council is investigating. We are speaking with a range of landowners but no decisions have been made."
