Citizen jury’s verdict on infrastructure

Upgrading Bendigo Law Courts was among a citizen jury’s recommendations for Victoria’s 30-year infrastructure strategy.

People from Bendigo and surrounds were among the 40 or so members of the regional jury reporting to Infrastructure Victoria, which is drafting the strategy. 

Bendigo was specifically mentioned in recommendations about justice delivery in regional areas, transport, and water resources.

Technology and clean energy were the top priorities in a citizen jury’s recommendations for a 30-year Victorian infrastructure strategy. 

Two citizen juries were convened to help shape the strategy: one sat in Shepparton, representing regional Victoria; the other in Melbourne, representing metropolitan interests.

The regional jury’s 60-page final report was handed to Infrastructure Victoria on July 30 and released on Tuesday.

Improving ICT infrastructure, including a statewide roll-out of fibre optic cable, ranked highly.

Equally important was an option promoting large-scale wind and solar energy generation. 

The jury recommended the strategy address the needs for justice in regional areas, specifically Bendigo Law Courts. 

The option had strong links to other priorities, including co-location of justice and human services.

The jury said it would also lead to “vital improvements needed for regional courts where current infrastructure is outdated.”

“We want to encourage the growth of regional Victoria and we expect co-operative planning between tiers of government and that essential government services should be equitably provided to all Victorians,” the report read.

The jury highly recommended the upgrade of passenger rail services in regional Victoria.

“Increasing passenger rail services to country cities will usually result in increased usage, as evidenced by upgrades to the Bendigo line,” the report read. 

It reasoned that a Melton rail extension would improve capacity to Geelong, Bendigo and Ballarat lines.

Bendigo was also cited in a recommendation to deliver new and expanded regional bus upgrades. 

The jury failed to reach a consensus on a suggested Bendigo Ballarat Geelong Rail Revival, citing cost as a divisive factor.

It discouraged long distance pipeline water grids, example “to Bendigo and Ballarat,” encouraging the development of cities where water resources are available. 

A regional east-west rail link upgrade was mentioned as a concept warranting further investigation.

“Transport Melbourne to Ballarat and Bendigo has increased,” the report read.

Bendigo and Castlemaine were among the central Victorian communities represented in the regional jury.

“Consultation is critical to our strategy because we think people that will be impacted by our recommendations should have a voice,” Infrastructure Victoria chief executive officer Michel Masson said. 

Feedback to the jury’s report will be released alongside the draft strategy in October. 

The final strategy will be delivered to the Parliament of Victoria in December.