Project Status Updates

Project Status Update – February 2024

On 7 December 2023, we released our Victorian Planning Authority Business Plan 2023-24. This plan outlines the projects and activities the VPA will undertake this financial year to deliver on the Victorian Government’s commitments and the priorities in Victoria’s Housing Statement – the decade ahead 2024-2034, which will deliver opportunities to increase housing supply and improve affordability outcomes for Victorians.

Merrimu is designated a Tier 2 project on our work program. Tier 2 projects are active projects that are progressing subject to technical studies being undertaken and completed across government to determine appropriate next steps.

As of January 2024, we have completed the following work:

• Continued engagement with the Department of Transport and Planning to understand the implications of its preferred Option B route for the Bacchus Marsh Eastern Link Road (BMELR) for the Precinct Structure Plan;
• Continued engagement with the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) to understand how the surveys to identify potential populations of the Victorian Grassland Earless Dragon (VGED) will be carried out for the precinct;
• Addressed concerns regarding the program, VGED, BMELR and other queries raised by landowners and representatives;
• Finalised and uploaded the following technical studies: Economic and Retail Assessment, and Landscape and Visual Character Assessment.

The following technical studies are currently underway commissioned by the VPA or other parts of the Victorian Government:

• Integrated Water Management Strategy
• Aboriginal Heritage Assessment
• Historical Heritage Assessment

We will be in a position to consider progressing this project to the next stage when:

• DEECA has finalised the methodology for the surveying technique of the VGED;
• There is a forward funding strategy to fund the project through to completion.

We review our work program regularly, including our ability to speed up the progress of projects. We will update you as soon as possible when there are significant status changes for our planning for Merrimu.

If you would like any further clarity on the status of our planning for Merrimu, please contact Chris Renkin at Chris.Renkin@vpa.vic.gov.au

Previous Project Status Updates

• Project Status Update – November 2023
• Project Status Update – July 2023
• Project Status Update – April 2023
• Project Status Update – October 2022
• 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)