Planning Minister Richard Wynne will today announce the rezoning of more than 300 hectares of land along the Calder Highway, paving the way for the City of Greater Bendigo to begin developing the Marong Business Park.

The business park is one of the city’s top priorities and is forecast to generate up to 3000 jobs in sectors including manufacturing, logistics, research and development and service.

But the proposal has been controversial with the previous Bendigo council last year voting to push ahead with the development despite fierce opposition from the landowners and an independent panel which ruled that an “unco-operative landowner and a project’s feasibility” were insufficient justification for applying a public acquisition overlay when other options were available.

However the government now insists it “has got the planning right – striking the right balance between protecting nearby users of the land and catering for future requirements of the area”, opting not to apply the overlay.

The planning scheme announcement means that the City of Greater Bendigo can now begin the next stage of development of the park.

Ahead of the announcement yesterday, Mr Wynne said the project was “a top priority for Bendigo – and rightly so”.

“It will create jobs, jobs and more jobs, and that’s just what thriving regional centres need,” he said.

Regional Development Minister Jaala Pulford and Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards also praised the milestone.

“Right now this is vacant land, but in years to come it will be home to thousands of local jobs – and that’s good for local businesses across the Loddon Campaspe region,” Ms Pulford said.

“This project gives Marong the potential to be a flagship destination for the big manufacturing, logistics, research and development and service companies,” Ms Edwards said.

“It means more jobs for more locals – right on their doorstep.”