ALL THINGS CONSIDERED DISCUSSION PAPER
Thank you for the opportunity to provide feedback on the All Things Considered Discussion Paper and to provide suggestions for projects which we believe would make a significant contribution to the identified needs and objectives of the process.
In preparing our response we have taken the Vision Statement that “by 2046, we see a Victoria where everyone can access good jobs, education and services regardless of where they live..” as the core principle.
The Identified Needs
As outlined in our earlier submission and in discussions with Infrastructure Victoria, we believe that the omission of a “need” based on food security and agriculture diminishes the strategy and the work that will result from the process. We note the inclusion of an action to manage water security. However food security and production will become critical issues in the coming decades and it will be too late to address investment into critical infrastructure at that point. We strongly urge you to consider adding a new “need” or amending one of the existing ones to ensure food security is addressed in the final strategy.
Source of the suggested projects and spatial consideration
We note that the projects included in the All Things Considered paper have been sourced from Government Departments and existing strategies including Plan Melbourne and the Regional Growth Plans.
We welcome the opportunity to provide comment and projects, as our region is not adequately supported in the Regional Growth Plans, nor Plan Melbourne. These are strategies that focus on the capitals whether that is Melbourne or the Regional City for each plan. There is little support directed to the areas which, in many instances, are growing faster than the Regional Cities identified in the Regional Growth Plan.
Rather than rehash old and shelved government projects and ideas, the 30 year vision and Infrastructure Victoria’s mandate as a ‘independent” agency should have provided you with the opportunity to undertake a gaps analysis of the infrastructure required to bring the vision, objectives and needs to fruition. The identification and analysis of projects following the gaps analysis would have delivered projects aligned with delivering the vision and moving this State and the regions forward.
Sadly, only those projects which have previously garnered some level of government support have been considered to date. The opportunity to encourage the development of projects to meet identified gaps in our infrastructure provision has not been delivered at this time.
Addressing the Options
As the Discussion Paper contains an extensive array of options our response is limited to commenting on options that fit within the following four categories:
- Highly recommended / supported.
- Not supported.
- Revised.
- New initiative – options not addressed in the Discussion Paper.
The Options
1. Address Infrastructure Demands in Areas with High Population Growth
The Peri Urban Group welcomes initiatives to support fast growing areas, particularly in the peri urban region including Surf Coast, Golden Plains, Moorabool, Macedon Ranges, Murrindindi, Baw Baw and Bass Coast. It is important to note that Murrindindi’s growth was tracking at similar rates to the other PUGRC Councils prior to the 2009 fire.
Centralised Planning Scheme (CPS1) / Not Supported – Through a range of community engagement exercises conducted throughout the peri urban region, the local communities have strongly expressed a desire to retain the local character of their areas. We believe that a centralised planning scheme would deliver ‘one-size-fits-all” approach to growth and planning that would result in urban style planning outcomes and the loss of local character and identity which are crucial for tourism opportunities.Growth Area Bus Service (LBS) / Strongly Supported – this would significantly improve the liveability of our fast growing areas and open up greater opportunities for work and further education for residents of these areas. We request that scalability be built into this initiative so that areas which have not reached a critical mass but are growing rapidly could have services which steadily improve over time with emphasis on services to support the working population.
Development Contributions Grants / New initiative - the challenge in the fast growing areas of the peri urban region is that often the infrastructure to support the new residential and other growth is required prior to Development Contributions being paid. This requires the Councils of this region to borrow (incurring interest payments) or self-fund the infrastructure at the expense of other projects. The challenge following the introduction of rate capping will be funding this infrastructure. Some of the challenges are articulated in the scenario for this section.
We suggest the Government establish a rolling fund that Councils can access to fund the works that will be covered by the Developer Contributions. The fund could be repaid on receipt of the Developer Contributions.
We would welcome the opportunity to participate in further work on a funding model to address this issue.
Access to Services Through Technology and ICT (AST) / Strongly supported–the peri urban region is highly desirable for businesses seeking expansion opportunities in areas with excellent transport access. Unfortunately, in many areas, they are finding that the available internet and mobile coverage is not sufficient to run productive business and they are relocating again to areas closer to Melbourne with more reliable / faster services.
To balance the population growth from Melbourne to the regions it is essential that the ICT and mobile coverage is vastly improved.
A recent study commissioned by NBN revealed that access to fast and reliable internet is a priority for 75% of people moving to areas within commuting distance of a major capital.
In Australia there are already 40,000 people undertaking some work from home. This is forecast to grow to over 1 million people in the next decade.[1]
Clyde Rail Extension (CRE) / Strongly supported.
Melton Rail Electrification (MRE1) / Revised - the Melton Rail Electrification project is one aspect of improved services along the Ballarat Rail Corridor.
The Ballarat Rail Action Committee (BRAC) and Rail Futures continue to review options for improvement to services. One such option is the electrification and duplication of the line to Rowsley not Melton as suggested. A business case would show that this would deliver an improved outcome to all users along the line to Rowsley. Similarly improvements along the line at Ballan, Gordon, Bungaree, Wallace and Warrenheip also need to be addressed in the 30 year timeframe.Of course, the enhancements need to ensure that timetabling and services to commuters are not adversely affected.
In the event that the rail is only electrified and duplicated to Melton thebus services between Bacchus Marsh and Melton will require review and consultation with users.
Eastern Link Road
(Moorabool Shire) / New Initiative:
The Eastern Link Road (ELR) connecting Gisborne Road to Bacchus Marsh-Geelong Road to the near east of Bacchus Marsh is not identified in the Discussion Paper but has considerable strategic merit for the district on the basis that:
- Direct access to the Western Freeway will activate the Parwan Employment Zone, a priority for increased local employment within the district based on food and fibre production.
- Freight from the Calder Freeway to Port of Geelong can bypass the centre of Bacchus Marsh which currently has 500 trucks per week or one truck every 5 minutes passing local schools and navigating narrow town streets.
- The ELR is a likely priority project in the urban growth framework being developed for Bacchus Marsh, by the Minister for Planning via the MPA and Moorabool Shire Council.
- Noting that Bacchus Marsh is an identified regional growth centre under Plan Melbourne, it is not acceptable that it presently takes 20-25 minutes to travel from Darley to Maddingley (4kms) when it takes only 10-12 minutes to travel from Bacchus Marsh to Melton (13kms).
- Bacchus Marsh is regionally significant with respect to sand extraction for the construction industry in metropolitan Victoria (over 50% of all sand). It is also regionally significant with respect to the trade waste landfill facility at Maddingley brown coal mine. Efficient access to these resources is critical to the function of regional Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne.
- VicRoads has committed to a corridor study to confirm the alignment of the ELR and therefore with the structural benefits in regional freight movement and scope to grow investment in Parwan the project should be listed in All Things Considered.
Greenfield Development Sequencing (GFS) / Strongly supported – this would be further enhanced by theDevelopment Contributions Grants outlined above.
Arterial Road Network Employment Centre Enhancements (ARN) / Strongly supported.
Organic Waste Management (OWM) / Strongly supported - this initiative needs more focus on the work of the regional waste groups across the state and particularly the $0.5 billion sustainability fund resulting from landfill levies that remains unallocated. It is important that the Regional Waste and Recovery Plans, and local government as a key investor in waste infrastructure, are consulted on changes.
Sport and Recreational Facility Investment Framework (SRF) / Strongly supported - There is an urgent requirement to address the current deficit of sporting and recreational facilities in the peri urban areas and to ensure adequate facilities are provided into the future for growing populations.
Wastewater System Augmentation (WWS) / Revise - Further work to diversify water options and particularly link opportunities for adding value to agricultural product in peri urban areas would provide an enormous economic boost in jobs and exports.
Maximising the water grid in Victoria is another issue that should be listed by the ATC paper. Some of this will be set out by the government’s review - Water for Victoria Discussion Paper. Caution is needed about the Water for Victoria paper that relies on the water grid being able to move water around Victoria readily. There are significant gaps and poor existing infrastructure at present that need to be addressed first. A new pipeline connecting agricultural areas would support production in times of drought. Reliance on the Desalination Plant to address water shortfalls in a township remote from the plant, like Ararat, is not realistic.
The use of storm water also needs to be considered as a viable alternative source.
Peri Urban Infrastructure and Economic Development Strategy / New initiative – this strategy will consider the infrastructure required for population growth and identify suitable employment and investment opportunities for the region.
Support to grow local jobs and economic opportunities is essential. In the absence of this support, the percentage of commuters using the peri urban region as a dormitory region or “Melbourne’s bedroom” will continue to grow and will increasingly strain infrastructure and community resilience.
A robust strategy of this nature would enable cohesive, whole of government planning and the sharing of significant infrastructure which would reduce unnecessary duplication across the region.
Additionally, the Strategy would enable both Local and State Government to have a clear and comprehensive understanding of the strategic requirements for the region.
2. Address infrastructure challenges in areas with low or negative growth.
There are significant opportunities for the small townships and settlements across the peri urban region to accommodate population growth. Many of the towns with small or declining populations are well serviced with good community infrastructure and access to services including underutilised schools. Investment into infrastructure would enable some of these towns to grow and accommodate increased numbers of residents.
In addressing the needs of these communities, it is critical that the 30 year infrastructure strategy does not become a ‘one-size-fits-al’ strategy that considers metropolitan usage rates and suitability of facilities for the regional facilities. Community facilities in townships and settlements with low or declining populations are critical community and social hubs and their ‘consolidation’ or closure would be a significant blow to these communities. Better usage is strongly supported.
Small Towns Sewerage Plan / New Initiative – There are a range of well located, small towns and settlements across the peri urban region that could accommodate additional population growth if sewerage issues were addressed through a fund to deliver reticulated sewerage.There is currently no initiative forsewering towns zoned for growth under local planning schemes. The Country Towns Water Supply and Sewerage (CTWSS) program was abolished in 2013 and there has been nothing to replace it.
For example, Myrniong in Moorabool Shire is located on the Western Freeway just 10 minutes from Bacchus Marsh. It has excellent connection to the Freeway and is only 49 minutes and 70km from Melbourne. Growth in Myrniong is currently limited due to the absence of reticulated sewerage and the special water catchment that protects the area. With an investment of just $5.3 million, Myrniong could be opened up to residential growth. Bungaree is another example requiring $5.85 million invested into sewerage. This project would alleviate some of the growth challenges of Ballarat.
Public Transport Alternative Use of Taxis or Hire Cars (PTA) / Strongly Supported – alternative transport solutions for rural communities to enable ageing populations to ‘age in place’ and remain within the communities that provide their social and support networks are supported. Access to affordable weekly shopping and medical appointments is critical for residents of rural and remote communities that are not supported by public transport.
Additionally we are seeing increased numbers of families from non-English-speaking backgrounds moving into these communities and often there is only one car leaving the partner stranded each day.
Community Space Refurbishment or Rationalisation (CSR) / Revised – we support initiatives to refurbish community spaces. However moves to rationalise and ‘close’ facilities in isolated communities is not supported. These facilities are the lifeblood of the community and have a significant role in times of disaster and bushfire.While some of these facilities may only be used several times each year, they are worth their weight in gold during a bushfire and during recovery as we have seen with the Scotsburn Hall and the Scotsburn community following the December 2015 fire.
Schools with Low Enrolments in Rural Areas (SLR) / Not supported – the schools with low enrolments in rural areas should be considered as part of the rebalancing of growth from the metro areas to the rural areas. Many towns with small schools are capable of accommodating population growth if supported by infrastructure including sewerage (see above). The schools are also key social and community hubs and their removal from an area significantly disadvantages the children of the town and surrounding villages.
Developer Contributions for Small Lot Subdivisions / New initiative – currently small subdivisions of 2 or 3 lots do not attract and Developer Contributions. There are areas in the Peri Urban region in which small developers are bringing land to market in a piecemeal way to avoid the development contributions.
This leaves Councils responsible for the costs of providing improved community infrastructure and services over time. The PUGRC would appreciate being involved in a piece of work that seeks to address this issue.
3. Respond to Increasing Pressure on Health Care, in Particular due to Ageing
This is a critical priority for the peri urban region.
Health and Aged Care and Repurposing of Facilities (HAC) / Revise – this needs a regional approach that considers the health care requirements of the region and the existing services. The peri urban region has a number of hospitals which are already at capacity and require investment to expand the service offering. The hospitals in Baw Baw Shire, Bass Coast Shire (Wonthaggi Hospital) and Moorabool Shire can be enhanced to provide services to a broader region which includes the faster growing growth centres.There are other Shires which require new and innovative medical and hospital services to meet the needs of growing populations.
Investment into Sports and Recreation Facilities / New Initiative – preventative health initiative, as outlined above in Sport and Recreational Facility Investment Framework (SRF)
Provide Better Access to Housing for the Most Vulnerable Victorians / Strongly supported – the 2012 study “Lifecourse Institutional Costs of Homelessness for Vulnerable Groups” revealed that the costs homelessness in health, justice and welfare were a minimum of $960,000, and for some individuals up to $5.5 million[2].
Drug rehabilitation facilities and programs / New initiative – Victoria has minimal beds available for drug rehabilitation. According to a Herald Sun article[3] there are just 208 beds available in Victoria and hundreds on waiting lists.
Greater investment into facilities to treat and support drug users is required in this State.
Regional Road Upgrades (RRU) / Strongly supported.
4. Enable Physical Activity and Participation