Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The gateway to Bendigo could become a hot spot for commercial and housing development under a City of Greater Bendigo plan.
The council wants to rezone the land at High Street Boulevard between Short and Shamrock streets to commercial 1 to encourage development in the area.
It says tens of millions of dollars of investment could follow.
Councillors will this week consider asking Planning Minister Matthew Guy to update the planning controls that apply to the boulevard.
“It is widely acknowledged the boulevard is the key entrance into Bendigo and it could feature a number of well-designed and thoughtfully considered contemporary, mid-rise, mixed-use buildings in an inner city part of Bendigo,” planning and development director Prue Mansfield said.
She said it was an opportunity to introduce more ground floor commercial space with upper level apartments or town house-type dwellings in the CBD.
“The rezoning would ensure any development remained sympathetic to the boulevard’s surrounds, including protecting views to the Central Deborah Gold Mine poppet head and the Sacred Heart Cathedral. It is also consistent will all council objectives about growing our city for the future," she said.
The land, measuring approximately 8.3 hectares, is currently zoned commercial 2, which is common for highway-frontage land but does not allow for any housing to be included in the development.
The council consulted with the 59 landowners of the 86 properties affected by the proposed re-zoning and received many letters of support.
The report before council notes the recommendation is in keeping with state government-adopted planning strategies, which identify the need for regional cities to accommodate a growing proportion of residential and employment growth.