21.06 SETTLEMENT OVERVIEW Echuca Serves Local, Regional And
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CAMPASPE PLANNING SCHEME 21.06 SETTLEMENT 25/01/2007 C35 OVERVIEW Echuca serves local, regional and tourist functions. Echuca is the largest centre in the Shire with a population of about 11,000, although its catchment area is estimated to include 50,000 people within a 70 kilometre radius. The city is an important commercial, industrial, community, recreational and transportation hub for northern Victoria and southern New South Wales. Echuca's industry structure is dominated by retail and wholesale trade. Echuca is the base for the Shire's growth industries (particularly tourism), and is an increasingly attractive retirement destination. Kyabram is a service centre for its rural hinterland. Compared to Echuca, Kyabram is a lower order retail centre mainly geared for high frequency shopping trips with a 'convenience goods' emphasis. Traditionally, Kyabram's economic and employment base has been underpinned by the services sector - especially in legal, accounting, financial, health, education and community services. Food processing and more recently dairy food stuffs has become increasingly important. Construction is also a significant industry in the town. Rochester is the principal service centre for a diverse agricultural region in the central part of the Shire. Rochester, like Kyabram, is primarily a convenience centre specialising in lower order goods. Milk processing and agricultural-related manufacturing is a significant industry in the town. Tongala, located between the significantly larger centres of Echuca and Kyabram, is the main service centre for its immediate rural community. The town primarily caters for high frequency lower order shopping and specialises in meeting the particular needs of local dairy farmers. Agriculture, especially dairying, is the most significant industry in the town's economic structure. Food and meat processing are major feature of the town's economy. Rushworth has a small economic base focused on tourism, heritage and essential services. Rushworth is unique in the town is predominantly surrounded by the box iron bark State Forest that provides significant opportunities and constraints. Stanhope, Gunbower, Colbinabbin, Lockington, Girgarre, Toolleen and Corop are small towns that serve their respective agricultural communities with basic retail and community facilities. These towns have generally small population catchments and tend to have highly constrained economic bases. As is the case with the majority of small towns, a handful of firms play a significant role in the local economy. The Shire encourages infill residential development of all settlements in order to maximise infrastructure and consolidate existing urban communities. Potential growth areas around existing urban areas must not be compromised by inappropriate development activity. The development of quality built and natural environments is essential for the well being of the community. The structured development of commercial centres within the existing towns of the Shire is essential so that the community is provided with a comprehensive range of goods and services. New commercial development shall occur in or abutting existing commercial centres. Increased diversity of the industrial base of the Shire is recognised as an important means of creating employment opportunities and wealth. To ensure long term well being, industry must operate in an environmentally sound manner and have access to appropriate infrastructure. KEY STRATEGIC ISSUES Identify an orderly development pattern for the Shire’s main townships in order to maximise infrastructure utilisation, appropriately manage the rural-urban interface and protect agricultural activity on the edge of townships. MUNICIPAL STRATEGIC STATEMENT- CLAUSE 21.06 PAGE 1 OF 24 CAMPASPE PLANNING SCHEME Accommodate the diverse housing and lifestyle preferences of the Shire’s population. Accommodate commercial opportunities in consolidated town centres. Accommodate industrial opportunities in existing and proposed industrial estates. OBJECTIVE 1 - RESIDENTIAL To encourage infill development in order to maximise infrastructure capacity and consolidate urban communities. STRATEGIES Identify potential growth areas around existing urban areas and ensure that they are not compromised by inappropriate development activity. Allow for the growth of existing urban areas however only on land that is zoned for residential purposes; is identified on the town structure plans as future residential; is not liable to flooding; does not conflict with existing viable agricultural operations and the natural environment; and will not consume high quality agricultural land. Develop a strategic approach to the provision of infrastructure (eg. roads, water, waste disposal, drainage, gas, electricity, telecommunications, etc). Establish residential areas where infrastructure can be provided cost-effectively and in an environmentally sound manner and in accordance with a Development Plan. Consolidate (and increase densities where appropriate) for residential development in existing towns to maximise utilisation of existing infrastructure where capacity exists. Provide a range of residential living opportunities from low density to medium density within existing towns. Restrict low density residential development to areas that: are on marginal agricultural land as determined by land capability assessment with a suitability score of ii) or iii) are not liable to flooding are adjacent to urban areas so that services and utilities are developed in an efficient manner are capable of integrating residential development in an environmentally sound manner do not negate long term options for the growth of existing urban centres is identified on the Town Structure Plan as future or long term low density residential. Ensure that residential areas are provided with a comprehensive range of health, education, recreation, cultural and entertainment facilities and services that meet the needs of all age and gender groups. Ensure that residential areas are designed so that detrimental effects on the environment, particularly from drainage and waste disposal, do not occur. Ensure that appropriate separation is established between residential, agricultural, industrial, wastewater treatment and disposal facilities and environmentally sensitive areas. Encourage the preservation, maintenance and enhancement of significant streetscapes and neighbourhood characteristics. Require high quality urban design based on the submission of a detailed site analysis and site context report. MUNICIPAL STRATEGIC STATEMENT- CLAUSE 21.06 PAGE 2 OF 24 CAMPASPE PLANNING SCHEME Acknowledge Council’s role in providing low cost public housing that is managed on behalf of Council by Loddon Mallee Housing. OBJECTIVE 2 - COMMERCIAL To provide the community with a comprehensive range of goods and services by consolidating the development of commercial centres within the existing towns. STRATEGIES Accommodate new commercial development in or abutting existing commercial centres. Develop a commercial hierarchy for the Shire based on: Echuca as a sub-regional centre including a Discount Department Store serving an extensive hinterland. Rochester and Kyabram as key community centres serving their surrounding districts. Tongala, Rushworth, Stanhope, Lockington, Gunbower, Girgarre and Colbinabbin as local centres providing convenience shopping for the town and the immediate surrounding area. Provide opportunities for growth that ensures new development is integrated and does not fragment the existing commercial centres. Ensure that industrial uses are discouraged from locating in areas zoned Business 2 along the main roads and state highways. Ensure that the siting of commercial and peripheral retail activities requiring large areas in highly accessible locations does not lead to the generation of traffic problems; the fragmentation of existing town centres; or an elongated entrance to towns. Require quality urban design, built form and landscaping of new commercial development to enhance the qualities of each centre, especially at the town entrances. OBJECTIVE 3 - INDUSTRIAL To ensure adequate support is provided to existing and new industry to improve international, national and state competitiveness in order to capitalise on the Shire’s local competitive advantages. STRATEGIES Support the growth of existing industries. Support the attraction of new industries to the Shire that are environmentally compatible and ecologically sustainable. Provide appropriately sited and serviced land to suit a range of industry requirements. Support waste minimisation and the re-use of industrial wastes and by-products. Support the development of the mining and extractive industries while emphasising the need for high standards of conduct. Establish industrial areas where infrastructure can be provided cost effectively and in an environmentally sound manner. Establish industrial areas where industries are not likely to conflict with other land uses particularly residential and agricultural uses. MUNICIPAL STRATEGIC STATEMENT- CLAUSE 21.06 PAGE 3 OF 24 CAMPASPE PLANNING SCHEME Encourage industrial sues to located in industrial areas and not on land zoned for commercial use along the main roads or state highways of urban areas. Support the location of any offensive industries to the nominated area south west of Tongala as indicated on the Tongala Town Structure Plan and on land zoned Industrial 2. Support small-scale compatible