With the silo art project complete, local businesses are seemingly reaping the benefits, but the community has developed a more formal plan for economic development in the town. 

Councillors this week endorsed a Community Economic Development Plan 2018, which detailed a number of short, medium and long-term aspirational projects the town could undertake.

Events or recreational infrastructure are referenced in the report.

A community-led bike share program called Tiger bikes is one the council is looking to support.

Read more: Reinventing Rochester as Murray Goulburn leaves town

In essence, locals would donate bikes to fix up, paint yellow and lend to locals and visitors to get around.

The town has a long history with bikes as champion cyclist Sir Hubert Opperman, or ‘Oppy’, was born there in 1904 and his last bicycle is permanently housed in Rochester’s Oppy Museum.

The plan suggests up to $5000 is needed for the project.

Other innovative ideas include a ‘fishing with a local program’, connecting avid anglers with locals who know the best secret spots and know all the local fish tales.

The informal program is hoped to attract visitors to the Campaspe River guided by enthusiastic locals. 

“A strong local economy and opportunities for socialisation in the town centre are critical to attracting investment and more people to Rochester. As many current residents choose to drive to nearby towns for some shopping and leisure, accommodating the locals’ needs as a priority ensures that there will be regular, repeat customers,” the report states.

Read more: Murray Goulburn to shut Rochester plant

“Similarly, because the main attractor for people is other people, passers by will be more likely to stop here when on their way somewhere else, and regional visitors will be more likely to stay when visiting Rochester for an event or to use recreational infrastructure.” 

The town is looking to rebuild following the closure of the Murray Goulburn factory in January, which left 105 people out of work.

The development of the plan was a recommendation from Rochester Open for Business, the group set up after Murray Goulburn announced it would shutter the dairy factory. 

Mayor Adrian Weston said the plan was predominantly community driven with the Campaspe Shire acting as a facilitator. 

He described the plan as a “shift in community planning and development, but one that appears, in the early stages, to be successful”.

“When a community owns a plan they are more likely to make sure it comes to fruition,” he said.