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Infrastructure Victoria is exploring options for the first ever statewide infrastructure strategy.
It has released an options paper, titled All things considered, outlining more than 200 possible solutions to Victoria’s infrastructure needs over the next 30 years.
The City of Greater Bendigo has contributed to the consultation phase, including as part of a local government reference group.
“What we did was throw 236 pieces of the puzzle on the table and invited the community to look at the pieces, constructively criticize what they say and come up with new pieces,” Infrastructure Victoria chief executive officer Michel Masson said.
“We received more than 260 new submissions from the community-at-large.”
Two citizen juries have been empanelled to provide further feedback – one representing regional interests, the other metropolitan.
The regional jury was drawn from the Shepparton area, the scope of which includes communities such as Axedale.
The juries most recently met on Saturday and will deliver a report by July 30.
Mr Masson said work had started on the draft plan.
Infrastructure Victoria will invite further feedback upon its completion.
The final strategy will be presented to parliament by the end of the year.
The Victorian government then has a year to respond with its five-year plans.
Infrastructure Victoria has been assessing each option for its economic, social and environmental costs and benefits; how different options work together; and how well they stand up to different scenarios.
It has yet to form a stance on any of the ideas.
“We know we can’t do everything so community feedback will be important to help us understand what people support, what we have missed and how we should prioritise options,” Mr Masson said.
He said Infrastructure Victoria would spend “the next couple of weeks” combing through the feedback and deciding what to include.
“The evidence we are given will inform our position when we release the draft strategy,” he said.