Project Status Updates

Project Status Updates – October 2022

The Victorian Planning Authority (VPA) has been progressing the planning for the Merrimu PSP by finalising our Key Issues and Opportunities Paper, and meeting with stakeholders to resolve key issues identified in our Draft Concept Place-based Plan Co-Design Workshop. 

Key Issues and Opportunities Paper

Since our last update in December 2021, we have published the Merrimu Key Issues & Opportunities Paper (July 2022) (PDF) which captures the vision, issues, opportunities as well as a summary of technical studies completed so far for the Merrimu PSP. You can view the paper in the Supporting Documentation tab below. 

Bacchus Eastern Link Road (BMELR) Alignment

A key consideration for the Merrimu PSP is the alignment of the future Bacchus Marsh Eastern Link Road (BMELR).  

The Department of Transport (DoT) is continuing the BMELR planning study to identify a preferred alignment, which is anticipated by the end of 2022. All relevant government agencies are working collaboratively on planning projects in Bacchus Marsh.  

Further updates on the BMELR alignment can be found on the Regional Roads Victoria website.

Place-Based Plan Co-Design Workshop

We held a Place-Based Plan Co-Design Workshop with Moorabool Shire Council, key government agencies and primary landowners to present background information and identify issues and resolution options for the draft Placed-Based Plan. We tested concept plans featuring the three potential BMELR alignments, to ensure we’re prepared for a variety of potential outcomes.

Other Updates

Since December 2021, we have also: 

• Finalised Phase 1 Technical Studies and progressed Phase 2 Technical Studies and investigations. 
• Met with Melbourne Water to discuss the size and location of proposed drainage infrastructure. 
• Engaged technical experts to conduct a Sodic Soil Assessment, Integrated Water Management (IWM) Assessment, and Retail and Economics Assessment. Our completed Phase 1 Technical Studies can be found in the Supporting Documentation tab below. 

In the coming months we will be focused on progressing Phase 2 Technical Studies and developing a draft Place-Based Plan, draft PSP and DCP, including ongoing engagement with all landowners and stakeholders, in preparation for Agency Validation in March 2023. 

Recent finalised documents added to the Project page

The following documents have been uploaded to the project page in the last two months;

• Merrimu Wurundjeri Country PSP – Key Issues & Opportunities (July 2022) (PDF)
• Merrimu Precinct and Parwan Precinct – Preliminary Tree Assessment (Homewood) September 2022_Part 1 (PDF)
• Merrimu Precinct and Parwan Precinct – Preliminary Tree Assessment (Homewood) September 2022_Part 2 (PDF)
• Merrimu Precinct and Parwan Precinct – Preliminary Tree Assessment (Homewood) September 2022_Part 3 (PDF)

Previous Project Status Updates

• Merrimu PSP Landowner Updates – December 2021 (PDF)
• Merrimu PSP Landowner Updates – September 2021 (PDF)
• Merrimu PSP Landowner Updates – June 2021 (PDF)
• Merrimu PSP Landowner Updates – April 2021 (PDF)
• Merrimu PSP Landowner Updates – February 2021 (PDF)