BUNGAREE has been highlighted as a local township with considerable growth potential, a draft study by Moorabool Shire Council has shown.
The draft copy of council’s small towns and settlements strategy lists Bungaree, Dunnstown, Myrniong and Wallace as towns in need of further investigation to determine long-term potential.
The draft plan is developed as part of council’s future proofing of the shire and planning through to 2041 and investigates long-term infrastructure requirements for small towns across Moorabool Shire, which is currently in the midst of a population boom.
Moorabool mayor Allan Comrie said it’s important to plan ahead, citing the rapidly growing Bacchus Marsh as an example of a town that is struggling for adequate infrastructure to service its population.
“We weren’t prepared for Bacchus Marsh,” Cr Comrie said.
“We’ve done a structure plan for Ballan and Gordon and we’re trying to get ahead of the game at the moment.”
“We know that it’s (the continued population growth) is going to come.”
Sixteen small towns and settlements were considered in the strategy for their role in supporting local and surrounding residents or as entry points to the shire.
The key summary statement for Bungaree aims at constructing a reticulated sewerage network likely to help local producers at an outlined cost of between $6.8 to $7.2 million.
“A suitable public private partnership to fund a trunk sewer and gain Central Highlands Water support to include Bungaree and Wallace in a future five year capital works programme will be required, if these aspirations are to be realised,” the statement said.
The state government’s Victoria in Future figures show an expected population boom in Moorabool, with Melton to Ballarat corridor expected to grow by 195,500 people in 15 years.
“Moorabool Shire’s location in the centre of this corridor is expected to deliver greater than forecast population growth to the Shire,” council’s rural growth committee chair Tom Sullivan said.
