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RELATED: What will Victoria be like in 2046?
NEW or expanded courts are recommended for Bendigo in a draft 30-year plan addressing the state’s infrastructure needs.
The recommendation is among many put forward by Infrastructure Victoria as part of a pipeline for new projects, policies and reform.
The draft report, to be released today, focuses on nine sectors covering education to transport, telecommunications, energy and justice. The independent body has put forward 134 recommendations worth around $100 billion.
Three areas have been identified for priority action: increasing densities in established areas to make better use of existing infrastructure, introducing a comprehensive transport pricing regime and investing in social and affordable housing for vulnerable Victorians.
Infrastructure Victoria chief executive Michel Masson said these “recommendations have the potential to change the social and economic fabric of Victoria, and are the most important areas for action in the short to medium term’’.
Other recommendations include upgrades to regional rail lines and highways, new and expanded bus and coach services and expanding digital health and information technology infrastructure.
The state’s first infrastructure plan also recommends a new police non-emergency hotline to connect Victorians with police and other justice services; improved ICT connectivity across the state during the next 10 years, particularly in rural and regional areas, by maximising benefits from the NBN roll-out; regional rail and highway upgrades and expanding integrated communityhealth hubs.
There are also recommendations to expand telehealth - such as video conferencing and remote monitoring - to allow regional Victorians to access specialist and other health services without the need for travel and transform new state schools into shared community hubs with shared sports grounds, performing arts and onsite early childhood facilities.
The recommendations follow several months of consultation across the state, including feedback from the community, two citizen juries, government, academia and the private sector throughout an extensive consultation program. The strategy also followed rigorous assessment of available evidence and new analysis commissioned by Infrastructure Victoria.
The strategy is said to be ambitious and complex, but provides a practical road map for the future, setting out next steps for action and implementation targets over 0-5, 5-10, 10-15 and 15-30 years. Mr Masson said the strategy aimed to improve connectivity for regional Victoria, whether through better technology, better transport or creating spaces and facilities for communities to come together. The final strategy will be delivered to Parliament by the end of 2016. The state government then has 12 months to release its five year plan for infrastructure priorities. The strategy is available at yoursay.infrastructurevictoria.com.au.