Bannockburn South East
The Victorian Planning Authority (VPA) is preparing the Bannockburn South East Precinct Structure Plan (PSP) and Development Contributions Plan (DCP) in collaboration with Golden Plains Shire Council.
The Bannockburn South East precinct mainly consists of rural farming land
The precinct was identified as a priority growth area in the Bannockburn Growth Plan to deliver residential development in the short term. The precinct is located to the southeast of the existing Bannockburn township, approximately 16km north-west of Geelong.
The precinct encompasses an area of 523ha and is expected to accommodate approximately 5,200 dwelling and 16,000 residents. The precinct is bound by the existing urban area to the north, the Future Growth Option to the east, a railway line to the south and Bruce’s Creek to the west.
Interactive map of Bannockburn South East precinct
Background information
The Victorian Planning Authority (VPA) is a State Government statutory authority within the Department of Transport and Planning that reports to the Minister for Planning.
The VPA’s main task is to make sure Melbourne and Victoria’s regions remain great places to live and work. This requires vision and long-term planning to ensure our growing population has equitable access to employment, public transport, attractive public spaces and affordable housing.
Our key priorities include unlocking land for new homes and communities, facilitating housing diversity and affordability, job creation and better development of new communities in growing and established areas.
We do this by working closely with councils, government agencies and the planning and development community on integrated land use and infrastructure coordination for new communities and strategically important precincts.
The Minister for Planning has appointed the VPA to lead this project from conception to finalisation. Throughout the project, we will work closely with Golden Plains Shire Council, State Government agencies and local community members to ensure the plan considers and reflects their input.
A Precinct Structure Plan (PSP) is a land use and infrastructure plan to guide the development of an area over time. It provides certainty for community members and developers by providing a long-term vision for how an area will develop in the future.
A PSP sets out the preferred locations of residential and employment land and infrastructure, and provides guidance for transport and parking, urban design, heritage and character, open spaces and integrated water management.
Together with the broader planning framework, precinct structure planning is an important part of the Victorian Government’s strategy to address population growth, housing and employment demands.
Bannockburn is one of the fastest growing towns in regional Victoria. The population is expected to reach more than 13,000 people by 2036, but there’s a shortage of land available to develop for new houses. The Precinct Structure Plan will provide an integrated plan to accommodate this growth in the short term in a sustainable matter, and will ensure this growth is coordinated with needed services, infrastructure and community facilities.
Bannockburn is the largest town in Golden Plains Shire. The Victorian Government and Council see it as an ideal place to support Golden Plains’ growing population, thanks to its existing infrastructure and amenity.
The Bannockburn South East Precinct was defined and put forward as a priority growth area as part of the work conducted for the Bannockburn Growth Plan. The Growth Plan sets out a vision for the long-term growth of Bannockburn and includes preliminary outcomes and high level planning work that will be used to guide the development and direction of the Bannockburn South East Precinct Structure Plan.
Project Status Updates – March 2025
We have progressed the planning for Bannockburn South East by completing and updating technical work to inform the Precinct Structure Plan, Development Contributions Plan and proposed local planning policy.
In addition, we have updated a background study about land capability (see Bannockburn South East PSP – Soil Desktop Assessment – Sodic-Dispersive Soils and Contamination Risks (WSP) February 2025). The following updates do not materially change the findings of the report:
- Table 8.1 – Clarifies the extent of the affected properties.
- Section 9.4 – Clarifies findings at 418 Burnside Road noting there was no access available at the time of the assessment.
We have also uploaded the Bannockburn South East – Bushfire Assessment (VPA) January 2025 which was prepared in-house and peer-reviewed by TerraMatrix.
Since our last update in January, we have:
- Finalised the public consultation package based on technical work and engagement with key stakeholders.
- Prepared arrangements for public consultation activities such as notification letters and other materials.
- Progressed with draft technical work including land valuations and infrastructure design and costing.
Looking forward, we will continue to finalise the reports for land valuations, infrastructure design and costings and development feasibility. We will also refine the amendment package in preparation for public exhibition.
Previous Project Status Updates
- Project Status Updates – January 2025
- Project Status Updates – November 2024
- Project Status Updates – September 2024
- Project Status Updates – July 2024
- Project Status Updates – May 2024
- Project Status Updates – March 2024
- Project Status Updates – November 2023
- Project Status Updates – July 2023
- Project Status Updates – May 2023
- Project Status Updates – March 2023
- Project Status Updates – October 2022