BENDIGO councillors have approved early plans for a 1400-lot subdivision at Maiden Gully.
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Councillors voted in favour of taking the plans to the next stage, which is seeking approval from Planning Minister Matthew Guy to rezone the land.
Once that’s done, the public and organisations are invited to respond before detailed plans for the subdivision are created.
“This is early days in the process,” City of Greater Bendigo planning and development director Prue Mansfield said.
“We’re proposing to change the law about what they can and can’t do on their land.
“We’re expecting there’s probably a year to 18 months left in the process.”
Cr Bruce Phillips noted that Bendigo was facing a housing shortage, which the development could eventually help fill.
“There’s a simple maxim that says the more land on the market, the better,” he said.
Cr Barry Lyons said the city was playing catch-up on housing.
“This is very early days,” he said.
“The housing problem’s gotten away from us. The sooner we do this – it makes common sense – the better.”