-------------~~~ - -- -~--- :: '.::::: :: :::::: LODDON - CAMPASPE REGIONAL STUDY Towards Building a Comprehensive Planning and Development Strategy MPE LIBRARY llllllllllll lllll lllll lllll lllll llllllllllllllllll M0004011 MINISTRY FOR PLANt-.UNG AND ENVIRONMENT LIBRARY LODDON-CAMPASPE REGIONAL STUDY FINAL REPORT To wards building a comprehensive Planning and Development Strategy. MAY 1 977 711 . 3099 1652074 454 LOO Loddon-Campaspe regional study : towards building a comprehensive planning and development strategy : final report FOREWORD In the past two decades, there has been increasing concern in the Victorian Community with the economic, social and environmental implications of the continuing concentration of population growth and economic and social opportunities in Melbourne, and the impa~t this has been having on communities outside the metropolitan area. In response to that concern, Governments at all levels have developed policies and programmes designed to enhance the range of economic and social opportunities available in non-metropolitan areas and to bring the process of Government planning and policy formulation closer to residents in those areas. -· In the development of these policies and programmes,it has been widely recognized that if they are to be effective, co-operative action by all levels of Government~ including close consultation with the communities concerned will be essential. The Regional Studies of the Loddon-Campaspe and Central Highlands Regions are an important example of this co-operation. The studies were undertaken by a team drawn from Commonwealth and State Government agencies working together closely under the joint supervision and directio~ of senio~ officers of the agencies involved. The study team undertook extensive discus~ions with munici­ palities and residents in both regions. The study team was also assisted by the establishment of an Advisory Committee made up of representatives of regional organisations in the two regions which was especially constituted as a source of advice, consultation and review. This widespread involvement of regional and municipal representatives, local residents and community organisations in the Regions with activities undertaken by the professional staff from the participating agencies has facili­ tated the production of Reports which we believe provide a sound basis for co-operative action by Local, Regional, State and Commonwealth agencies to promote the economic and social welfare of the Regions' residents. For these reasons, we welcome the publication of the Reports which we hope will receive widespread public circul~tion and discussio resulting in the fonnulation of effective policies and programmes to c ~o he future of the Regions. /•' /:/?<" ,,. ..~ ,,.. ~p 4 /.~~ DIGBY CROZIER, Minister for State Development ~·~·-;"';.• --, TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction: Page 1. Stimulus for the Study. 1 2. Aims and Objectives of the Study. 1 3. Conduct of the Study. 2 4. - Study Management. 4 5. Form of Report. 5 6. Acknowledgements. 6 Part One - Appraisal of Capabilities, Opportunities and Problems: • Chapter 1 - The Region in Perspective: 7 1.1 Location and Physical Characteristics. 7 1.2 Historical Development. 7 1.3 The Existing Pattern of Settlement. 8 1.4 Population and Workforce. 11 1.5 The Role of Bendigo. 11 1.6 Regional Economic and Social Linkages. 11 Chapter 2 - Recent Economic and Demographic Trends in the Region: 13 2.1 Population Growth. 13 2.2 Employment Trends. 15 2.3 The Primary Sector. 15 2.4 Manufacturing Industry. 17 2.5 Unemployment. 19 2.6 Building and Construction. 23 2.7 The Tertiary Sector. 25 Chapter 3 - Social Services and Facilities: 27 3 .1 The Organization of S.ervices. 27 ,_ 3.2 Health Care. 28 3.3 Education. 30 3.4 Welfare Services. 31 3.5 Care of the Aged. 31 3.6 Accessibility to Social Services and Facilities. 33 Chapter 4 - Housing, Physical Infrastructure and the Environment: 34 4.1 Housing. 34 4.2 Transport. 35 4.3 Basic Services. 38 4.4 Preservation of the Environment. 43 Part Two - Recommended Planning and Development Strategy: Chapter 5 - Formulating a Regional Planning and Development Strategy: 46 5.1 The Nature of a Regional Planning and Development Strategy. ' -:-46 5.2 State Planning and Development Decisions. 47 5.3 Implications for the Loddon-Campaspe Region. 52 Chapter 6 - Major Influences and Policy Issues: 53 6.1 Demographic and Economic Considerations. 53 6.2 Future Level of Population Growth 55 6.3 Physical Constraints on Development. 56 6.4 · The 'Major Policy Issues. 56 6.5 Economic and Social Opportunities in the Rural Areas. 57 ~' 6.6 Increasing Employment Opportunities in the Urban Areas. 57 6.7 Water Supply. 58 6.8 Care of the Aged. 58 6.9 Growth of Shires Adjacent to Melbourne. 59 6.10 The.Process of Rural Subdivision. 59 6.11 Other Matters of Concern. 60 6.12 Developing a Sense of Regional Identity. 61 Chapter 7 - Recomrnended Regional Planning and Development Strategy: 63 7.1 Regional Goals. 63 7.2 Recommended Policies. 66 7.3 Policy Priorities. 71 7.4 Organising for Implementation. 73 Addendum - Implications of 1976 Census Results 75 L -,1 LIST OF TABLES Table No. 1. Workforce by industry group, Loddon-Campaspe Region, 9 Bendigo Sub-region, Rest of Loddon-Campaspe Region, 1971. 2. Percentage Distribution of Employed Persons by Industry 10 Sector, Victorian Regions, 1971. 3. Actual and Potential Workforce, Loddon-Campaspe Region, 12 30 June 1971. 4. Average Annual Rates of Population Growth, Non 13 Metropolitan Regions of Victoria, 1966-1975. 5. Employment by Industry, Loddon-Campasp.e Region, 16 Bendigo Sub-region, Rest of Loddon-Campaspe Region, 1966 and 1971 . .•. 6. Manufacturing establishments and employment in major 19 cities in the Loddon-Campaspe Region, 1968-69 to 1972-73. 7. Manufacturing Establishments Opened 20 and Closed in the Bendigo Sub-region 1972-76 8. Estimated Rate of Unemployment in Non Metropolitan 21 Victoria, 1975-76. 9. Ratio of Registered Unemployed to Unfi'lled Vacancies 22 in Non Metropolitan Victoria, 1975-76. 10. Number of new dwellings completed, Bendigo 23 sub-region, 1966-67 to 1974-75. 11. Value of Buildings (other than dwellings) Approved, 24 Bendigo Sub-region, 1971-72 to 1974-75. 12. Number of new dwellings completed in Maryborough, 24 Castlemaine, and Echuca, 1970-71 to 1974-75. 13. Population Distribution by Age Group, Regions of 32 Victoria, 1971. 14. Water Supply in Major Urban Centres of 40 Lcddon-Campaspe Region. \ 15. Sewerage of Urban Centres in the Loddon-Campaspe 42 Region. 16. Areas of Conservation Significance of "High" 44 Vulnerability in the Loddon-Campaspe Region. 17. Areas of Conservation Significance of "Moderate" 45 Vulnerability in the Loddon-Campaspe Region. 18. Potential District and Regional 49 Centres, Victoria. LIST OF FIGURES Figure Facing Page 1. Location of Region. 8 2. Population Distribution. 8 3. Registered Unemployed and Job Vacancies, Bendigo Employment District, 1972-1976. 20 4. Health Facilities and Accommodation for the Aged. 28 5. Availability of doctors and dentists. 30 6. Primary and Secondary Schools in Loddon-Campaspe Region 30 7. Primary and Secondary Schools, Bendigo Urban Area. 30 8. Net Internal Migration by Age Group, Castlemaine 1966-1971. 32 9. Net Internal Migration by Age Group, Echuca, 1966-1971. 32 10. Existing Transportat~on Network 36 11. Bendigo - Surface Water Resources 40 12. Water Usage Trends and Implications, Coliban System. 40 13. Basic Services, Loddon-Campaspe Region. 44 14. Government Urban and Regional Development Policy Commit tment s. 52 I I l 1 INTRODUCTION 1. STIMULUS FOR THE STUDY The need for a study which would provide the basis for the formulation of a comprehensive planning and development strategy for the Loddon-Campaspe Region has been recognised for a long time. However, the specific stimulus for a study this time, together with that for a concurrent similar study in the Central Highlands Region, arose out of a visit to Victoria's major provincial centres in October, 1974, by the then Minister for State Development and Decentralization, the Honourable Murray Byrne, M.L.C., and the then Australian Minister for Urban and Regional Development, the Honourable Tom Uren, M.H.R. At Mr. Byrne's invitation, Mr. Uren accompanied him to Portland, Ballarat, Bendigo, and the Latrobe Valley, in order to gain an understanding of the problems and needs facing these centres and an appreciation of their potential for further development. In 1967, these four centres, together with Wodonga, had been recommended by the Decentralization Advisory Committee in its repo~t "Selection of Places Outside the Metropolis of Melbourne for Accelerated Development", as being the centres outside the Port Phillip Region which should be the subject of programmes and policies for accelerated development, in order to promote a more balanced distribution of population and employment opportunities throughout Victoria. Activity associated with planning at the regional level has accelerated considerably in the last few years. Regions are increasingly being recognised as the best level at which to tackle major planning and development problems and regional organisations are being established for a variety of purposes. The Victorian Government has formally defined regional boundaries throughout the State, and several State and Australian Government Departments have begun to organise their activities on a regional basis. At the State level, regional planning statements and policies have been issued by a number of Government