Parwan Employment 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 offers the potential for significant economic and employment growth for Bacchus Marsh and will be deliver a range of compatible industrial and agricultural uses.
Site context
The precinct is located on the lands of the Wadawurrung, south of the Bacchus Marsh town centre. The precinct is approximately 2,500ha, incorporating over 80 separate properties, including the existing Bacchus Marsh aerodrome. The precinct is bordered by Parwan Creek to the north, Nortons Road and the wastewater plant to the east, Nerowie and Glenmore Roads to the south and Bacchus Marsh – Balliang Road to the west. The precinct is bisected by Geelong-Bacchus Marsh Road. Parwan Creek forms a distinctive interface with the precinct, with the river corridor contributing to the area’s amenity. Bingham Swamp, located in the southeast, is another key environmental and heritage asset.
Current land uses within the precinct are predominantly agriculture and rural residential, with some commercial, recreational and utility uses. This includes the Bacchus Marsh aerodrome, Australian Gliding Museum, Parwan motocross, and a meat processing plant in the PEP. The Western Water Bacchus Marsh recycled water plant abuts the east side of the PSP boundary and the Maddingley Brown Coal Mine is located to the north. A gas transmission pipeline with a 210-wide buffer zone runs east-west through the northern portion of the site.
The proposed alignment of the Bacchus Marsh Eastern Link Road (BMELR), as identified by the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP), will connect to Geelong-Bacchus Marsh Road at the intersection of Parwan-Exford Road, at the northern end of the 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 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.
The Bacchus March 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 Parwan Employment Precinct holds significant economic and employment potential for Bacchus Marsh, with the ability to attract significant levels of new industrial and agribusiness investment and businesses that value-add and complement the Bacchus Marsh irrigation district.
A Development Contributions Plan (DCP) identifies the costs of some essential infrastructure required to support a PSP such as the costs of intersections, drainage corridors, retarding basins, and others. It will also set out a levy required for new development on a ‘per hectare of net developable area’ basis.
The DCP is required since broad scale new development often contribute to or cause the need for new or upgraded infrastructure. It ensures that existing infrastructure is not over-burdened by new development.
The DCP will be prepared concurrently with the PSP. All infrastructure items included must be strategically justified through a suite of background studies undertaken on the project. The DCP becomes a public document to be publicly exhibited along with the PSP.
To implement the PSP and DCP, a planning scheme amendment to the Moorabool Shire Council Planning Scheme must first occur.
A planning scheme governs the way land can be used and developed within the bounds of the Victorian Planning System.
A planning scheme amendment is updated from time to time to change the way land can be used or developed or to improve a particular scheme.
Project information
Once approved, development within the precinct will gradually occur over the next few decades.
Council is the responsible authority for the PSP and will be responsible for the planning application process that will deliver outcomes as outlined in the PSP and DCP.
Developers are responsible for preparing and lodging planning applications that must be generally in accordance with outcomes of the PSP and DCP.
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
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.
Bacchus Marsh has been identified for growth through a range of state, regional, and local policy. These include but are not limited to the Central Highlands Regional Growth Plan, Plan Melbourne 2017-2050, Housing Bacchus Marsh to 2041 and Bacchus Marsh Urban Growth Framework.
To accommodate this growth, the project will assist in providing additional housing and supporting infrastructure for the community and region.
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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