A water tower dominates the town's skyline, pumping water from an aquifer each morning to all premises in Elmore.

Yet the pressure has become so low in the mornings - when demand peaks - that the IGA supermarket had to install its own pumps to meet council water pressure requirements.

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It also means that when locals go to have a shower in the morning, they often find the shower head just drips and there's minimal pressure.

School bus driver Jeff Crust said it was becoming more of a concern as more houses were built on the edge of town.

"We pay the same water rates as Bendigo but don't get the same service," he said.

"They need to put money in and pressurise the system.

"The problem is that they don't see the benefit of spending $1 million or so for so few people."

Failing to get value for money from authorities - whether it be the City of Greater Bendigo or Coliban Water - is a common thread among residents.

The valuation on Mr Crust's property increased 11.4 per cent in his last rates notice, which occurred in a number of towns on the fringes of the City of Greater Bendigo.

He said it was difficult to see the benefits from paying increased rates.

"Rates have been capped, so how do they increase their rates takings? By saying our property values have increased," he said.

"This is an ageing community and people are on fixed incomes. How are they supposed to afford this sudden increase?

"There’s a lack of footpaths. It makes it difficult for mothers pushing their prams on the road, and elderly people have tripping hazards.

"There are gravel roads that have not been touched for years. It’s dangerous."

Another thing that locals say is dangerous in Elmore is the main street.

A drastic increase in the number of B-doubles travelling through the town in recent years has heightened safety concerns, even after the installation of a pedestrian crossing and the reduction in the speed limit from 60 to 50.

Elmore Progress Association secretary Judi Palmer said trucks regularly ignored the new speed limit, and others simply failed to see the pedestrian crossing.

"A couple of years ago there were almost no B-doubles, now you have them coming through almost every minute,” she said.

"There's got to be a hundred hay trucks going through Elmore every day."

A large number of these turn at the intersection of Elmore-Raywood Road, which the Progress Association says is unsafe for pedestrians and other road users.

They want it investigated and the intersection tightened to slow down turning vehicles.

They also want an end to the government’s two-up policing policy.

Residents described a recent incident in which police were required to travel to Elmore from Heathcote and Tatura – towns more than half an hour away – because there was no local officer. That has been rectified with an officer stationed at Elmore, but police still need a back-up from neighbouring towns.

While some services seem to struggle to cope in a town of just 800 people, there was a consensus among some residents: the town needs to grow to survive.

An ageing population and fewer people on the land mean towns like Elmore are struggling for population growth. Almost all high school graduates also seek to leave the town.

Ms Palmer said they needed support to establish new industries.

“We want the town to grow. We want to see industry in Elmore,” she said.

“Why couldn’t they put the industrial state planned for Marong on this side of Bendigo? Why can’t they increase industry in smaller towns?

“We do contribute to the economy, but we need to survive. We need to look at moving people from Melbourne to the regions, because it’ll help Melbourne and it’ll help smaller towns to survive too.”

Young Melbourne couple Renee and Brian McGinley have done just that.

With years of experience in hospitality under their belts in Melbourne, the couple wanted to try their hand at running their own business in a country town.

They made a list of 10 factors needed in a town and they did not want a seaside town dependent on summer holiday trade.

Elmore ticked all of their boxes.

“We wanted to work where we lived, and it was in the middle of Echuca, Bendigo and Shepparton,” Ms McGinley said.

They opened the Copper Kettle on the main street of Elmore in February, offering all-day breakfast with an ever-changing menu filled with local produce.

“The last thing we want to do is put something on the menu that doesn’t sell. It helps us to minimise waste as well,” Ms McGinley said.

They have become involved in the local community, providing cut-up oranges for the netball team and the profits from Anzac biscuits to the RSL.

It has also helped to fill another shopfront in Elmore.

Ms McGinley said they had loved their small-town shift, and looked forward to seeing Elmore grow.

“Everyone wants the town to continue to grow, but they might not know in what way yet,” she said.

“Other new businesses would do really well.

“The people would benefit from the variety.”

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