The City of Greater Bendigo has appointed a steering committee to help council develop a strategy to encourage growth in commercial areas and activity centres over the next 20 years.

The committee, which comprises councillors from each of the city’s three wards, specialist planners and members of the Bendigo Traders Association, has wasted little time in getting down to business.

They have met once already and will have a draft report prepared before Christmas.

Steering committee member and Birchgrove Property managing director Damien Tangey said the Commercial Land and Activity Centre Strategy would complement council’s existing plans for residential development and integrated transport and land use.

“The committee will look at how we plan for the future of Bendigo and how we make best use of our existing shopping grid and shopping areas away from the CBD,” he said.

Mr Tangey, who is on the committee in his capacity as the chair of the Northern chapter of the Urban Development Institute of Australia, said the future development of the commercial sector needed a whole of Bendigo approach.

“This is part of creating a diverse, strong and growing economy that generates jobs and entices people to live and work in our region.”

He said the initial meeting had been positive.

According to council figures, the retail sector generates about $519 million in economic output each year. It employs more than 5000 people.

Mayor Barry Lyons said the strategy was critical to facilitate investment and job opportunities in a growing economy.

“The strategy will set out to reinforce a strong CBD as a core city centre with successful regional activity centres such as Lansell Square and Strathdale Village, and demonstrate how our small neighbourhood centres can complement these larger centres,” he said.

Council is represented on the steering committee by mayor-elect Peter Cox, and councillors Mark Weragoda and Lisa Chapman.