Merrimu Precinct Structure Plan
The Victorian Planning Authority (VPA) is working with Moorabool Shire Council to prepare a Precinct Structure Plan (PSP) and Development Contributions Plan (DCP). The precinct will deliver housing, community centres, health and education facilities, utilities, employment opportunities, local parks, roads and drainage.
Merrimu is a large land ensemble with the potential for self-sufficient residential development, accommodating growth to 2042 and beyond while integrating landscape values.
Disclaimer
The developable area and place-based plan within the draft reports features details that are assumptions only for the purposes of background reporting. They do not represent VPA support for the developable area or place-based plan and are subject to change based on the outcomes of the draft studies and PSP process.
Victorian Grassland Earless Dragon
The critically endangered Victorian Grassland Earless Dragon (VGED) was recently found at a location west of Melbourne. It is the first time the lizard species has been sighted in more than 50 years, and it was previously considered likely to be extinct.
The Victorian Planning Authority (VPA) has been advised that the Merrimu precinct has been identified as likely having habitat that would support the VGED. This means that we will not be able to progress the preparation of a place-based plan for the precinct until the surveys have been undertaken, and any conservation response has been determined.
The VPA is working closely with the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) to understand how the surveys to identify potential populations of VGED will be carried out for Merrimu Precinct Structure Plan (PSP).
These surveys will need to be undertaken to collect more information on the species and its habitat to inform precinct structure plans, projects and potential conservation measures. The surveys will need to be undertaken over warmer months, starting in the summer of 2023/24. This work will impact the timing of the Merrimu PSP.
We will contact landowners about these surveys, which will be prioritised in precincts currently on our work program to ensure program impacts are minimised.
Ahead of the completion of the surveys and confirmation of the conservation response, the VPA will continue to resolve technical reports that are underway and not dependent upon the survey results, to allow us to move quickly towards preparation of a place-based plan once the survey results are known. As these reports are completed, we will publish these on our website, and will advise stakeholder via our regular project updates.
Given the potential presence of the VGED within the Merrimu precinct, multi-agency surveillance and monitoring is being undertaken to ensure that no illegal clearing of vegetation and habitat is taking place.
The VPA is currently pursuing a contact at DEECA for our stakeholders and will advise when that becomes available.
General information about the VGED can be found at the Zoos Victoria website.
Background information
The Victorian Planning Authority (VPA) a Victorian Government statutory authority that plans for urban growth across Victoria. We report 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.
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 Victorian Planning Authority (VPA) to lead this project from conception to finalisation. Throughout the project, we will work closely with Moorabool 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.
- First, the Victorian Planning Authority (VPA) (as the planning authority for this work) speaks to landowners and council to develop a vision for the precinct.
- Technical reports such as drainage assessments, traffic modelling and heritage reports are prepared to help planners understand the potential limitations of the land.
- In consultation with Council, the VPA will prepare a draft plan for both the Merrimu and Parwan Station areas, outlining where land uses might be best located.
- The draft plan will form the basis of the precinct structure plan (PSP) and proposed planning scheme amendment. This will be shared with government agencies, key service providers and the broader community for input. Anyone interested in the PSP is invited to make a submission for review by the VPA.
- Unresolved submissions are heard by an independent panel at a Panel Hearing before the plan is finalised and provided to the Minister for Planning for consideration.
- Once the planning scheme amendment has been approved by the Minister for Planning and the PSP is incorporated into the Moorabool Planning Scheme, landholders can apply for permits to allow development to begin. Moorabool Shire Council will be responsible for administering planning permits.
The Bacchus Marsh Urban Growth Framework (UGF) identifies new areas for jobs, housing and infrastructure, while protecting valuable cultural and environmental assets. With Bacchus Marsh’s population anticipated to more than double to 50,000 residents by 2041, this plan will ensure growth is logical, sequenced and holistic. The framework was approved by the Minister for Planning in November 2018.
The framework identifies Parwan and Merrimu as key growth areas. The precinct structure plan (PSP) process will deliver more specific land-use planning for these areas to develop.
Project information
Merrimu is located north-east of the Bacchus Marsh town centre, and east of the Darley neighbourhood. It is physically separated from the centre of Bacchus Marsh by the Bacchus Marsh Irrigation District and the Western Freeway. It features strong links into the centre of Bacchus Marsh via Gisborne Road.
The precinct sits on an elevated plateau. Land within the precinct is relatively flat but is characterised by a dramatic escarpment where the land falls away to the Irrigation District to the south.
The precinct is currently mostly rural in use, with a pocket of rural residential/lifestyle blocks in its south-east. The precinct abuts several significant operational sand quarries on the western side of Gisborne Road.
The Bacchus Marsh Urban Growth Framework identifies the Merrimu precinct to become predominantly residential . There is potential within Merrimu to create a number of smaller villages that provide different and complementary characters to suit a range of housing preferences.
The Bacchus Marsh area is growing, and there is opportunity for these precincts to accommodate some of the future population. Planning will allow for appropriate development in the Parwan, Parwan Employment and Merrimu precincts, ensuring that new and existing community members have access to housing, jobs, open space, infrastructure and services. The planning process is designed so that existing community members will benefit from the development occurring in their area.
We expect this expansion will occur over a long period of time – potentially in excess of 40 years.
The Bacchus Marsh Urban Growth Framework identified an Eastern Link Road for Bacchus Marsh as a key project to address existing network and congestion issues, as well as to support the development of new growth areas.
Regional Roads Victoria (RRV) have nominated Option B Alternative, as the preferred alignment for the Bacchus Marsh Eastern Link Road. The Victorian Planning Authority (VPA) will continue collaborating with RRV to ensure that the Eastern Link Road effectively integrates and supports the development of the precinct.
For more information on the Bacchus Marsh Eastern Link Road, refer to Regional Roads Victoria.
General information about the Victorian Grassland Earless Dragon (VGED) can be found at the Zoos Victoria website.
Additionally, for specific inquiries and details potential VGED populations and surveys, the Victorian Planning Authority (VPA) is collaborating with the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA).
You can contact DEECA for further information via:
- Email – customer.service@delwp.vic.gov.au
- Telephone – 136 186
Next steps
Surveys will be conducted for potential Victorian Grassland Earless Dragon (VGED) populations in the precinct.
While waiting for the results of those surveys, the Victorian Planning Authority (VPA) will continue to resolve technical reports that are underway and not dependent upon the survey results. Once completed, these reports will be published on our website.
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The Victorian Planning Authority (VPA) will continue to involve you in the planning process as it progresses. Opportunities for informal and formal feedback to the plan will also be provided. You can stay up to date by subscribing to the project newsletter in the ‘Subscribe now’ fields on the right-hand toolbar of this webpage.