Advocacy

Bendigo Regional Employment Precinct

Planning stage

The Bendigo Regional Employment Precinct (BREP) is being planned to provide critical industrial land to the broader region.

The City is seeking additional funds to finalise planning work that is already underway in partnership with Development Victoria, the Department of Transport and Planning, Regional Development Victoria and the Victorian Planning Authority.

There is less than 10 years' land supply left in Greater Bendigo and large, unrestrained parcels of land will be needed in the future to support a strong local manufacturing industry. When complete, it is envisaged that approximately 3,000 direct and potentially 3,000 indirect jobs will be created at the BREP, delivering $9.5B in economic benefits. The site is planned to be developed in six stages, with stage 1 expected to generate 1,150 jobs and $3.3B in economic uplift.

Golden Dragon Museum

Detailed design and construction

The Golden Dragon Museum is ready to become the National Chinese Museum of Australia. The planned redevelopment represents an exciting next chapter for the Museum and will feature new museum-standard exhibition spaces, theatre, research centre, education studio and expanded collection storage. State and Federal governments recently funded initial design and planning for this project.

Bendigo Livestock Exchange roof

Detailed design and construction

The Bendigo Livestock Exchange (BLE) has a throughput of approximately 1 million sheep and lambs that generate an estimated $190M in livestock sales. BLE is the last of regional Victoria's four main saleyards without a roof. A three-stage development is proposed.

New outdoor stadium

Feasibility stage

Funding for a feasibility study to investigate the location and design of a new multi-purpose outdoor stadium capable of hosting conferences, international sporting competition and events.

Enhanced city centre activation

Funding to attract large-scale events and activations to Bendigo to support the local and regional economy, particularly while the Bendigo Art Gallery is being redeveloped.

World Heritage Listing – Victorian Goldfields

Victoria has the world’s best example of a gold rush cultural landscape. This includes its geography and biodiversity, First Nations history, international migration, historic settlements, industry and mining landscapes.

National and international experts have found that Victoria has the world’s most extensive and best surviving gold rush landscape, when compared to gold rush landscapes around the world and in Australia.

Fifteen councils have joined together to achieve UNESCO World Heritage Listing, which would share the extraordinary story of the Victorian Goldfields with people from across the globe and create social, cultural and economic opportunities across the region.

Work is underway to confirm a final list of sites to be included in the formal nomination, scheduled to be lodged in February 2029.

• World Heritage Tentative Listing was confirmed by the Federal Government in January 2025
• Seeking to achieve formal World Heritage Listing by 2030 (determined by UNESCO)

White Hills pavilion

Detailed design and construction

Upgrade the pavilion, kitchen, spectator shelter, amenities and change room facilities to support female-friendly AFL, cricket and netball.

Malone Park, Marong

Funding to design a new sporting and community pavilion ($100,000) and funding to construct a new township-level play space, fitness station, multi-purpose half court/hit up wall, shelter, picnic facilities and toilet block ($1.5M).

Bendigo Botanic Gardens splash park

Design and construct

Design and construction of a splash park to be located at the Bendigo Botanic Gardens. This project delivers on existing strategies including the Community Aquatic Facilities Strategy and Bendigo Botanic Gardens Master Plan.

Ironbark Gully Trail

Construction

Link from Arnold Street to Eaglehawk Road (connecting North Bendigo Recreation Reserve to Garden Gully Reserve). Stage 1 under construction in 2025/2026.

Eaglehawk to Long Gully shared path

Construction

An important link that connects businesses, schools and service providers. Starting at the Long Gully Trail at Holmes Road. The Eaglehawk end will fork into two sections, with one starting at Canterbury Park (via Denham Street) and the other section starting at the High Street/Church Street intersection.

Healthy Loddon Campaspe

Funding to continue the Healthy Loddon Campaspe (HLC) initiative, which delivers projects focused on healthy eating and getting more people, more active, more often. HLC is a partnership involving the City of Greater Bendigo and Campaspe, Central Goldfields, Loddon, Macedon Ranges and Mount Alexander shires.

Howard Street intersection

Construction

The current Howard Street/Midland Highway signalised intersection and approaching lanes are not adequate for a major intersection. There have been many reported casualty crashes at this intersection in recent years. The Midland Highway is a key arterial road, while Howard Street is a gazetted truck route. Both roads carry more than 10,000 vehicles each day.

Calder Highway/Maiden Gully intersection

Construction

Maiden Gully is a key growth area in Greater Bendigo. The current population is 5,600 but is estimated to reach 11,600 in 30 years. Recent school developments and two residential subdivisions cannot proceed until the intersection is upgraded. The Department of Transport and Planning has undertaken planning and investigation for the intersection upgrade.

Calder Highway and Calder Alternate Highway, Marong (interim intersection)

Construction

An interim intersection is required to better cater for the increase in traffic generated from four new residential precincts surrounding the Marong township, as well as from the Bendigo Regional Employment Precinct, to ensure the intersection is safe for all users.

Racecourse Creek flood levee

An important flood mitigation project identified as part of the Epsom, Ascot, Huntly Flood Study to manage the impacts of riverine flooding on residential and commercial properties along Racecourse Creek in Epsom. Construction of the levee system will ensure flood flows during a 1% AEP event will be contained within the creek, avoiding impacts on property that have occurred because of past flood events. This project also includes a VicTrack/V-Line track lift and bridge structure upgrade along the Echuca rail line.

Bendigo Bus Network review implementation  

As part of the 2025/2026 State Budget, funding was allocated for the Bendigo Bus Network review. The next step is to implement the findings and the previously prepared Bendigo City Centre Bus Realignment, a joint project between the City of Greater Bendigo and Department of Transport and Planning.

Bendigo Metro Rail – free travel  

To encourage greater take-up of train travel within Bendigo, introduce free travel to train stations within the Greater Bendigo municipality – Kangaroo Flat, Bendigo, Eaglehawk, Raywood, Goornong and Huntly.  

Eaglehawk Library

Design and construct

Develop a new Goldfields Library branch in Eaglehawk, including a cool shell for a café operator to fit out. The library will sit within the existing Peter Krenz Centre and will contribute to turning the centre into a community hub, located within a precinct including a major play space, Lake Neangar, Canterbury Park, McKern Skate Park, Eaglehawk Bowls Club and multi-use courts.

Community Connections Project

A dedicated outreach worker has been based at Bendigo Library since June 2023, delivering a now-vital program of care that supports vulnerable people with complex needs. This role has been funded under a previous iteration of the Victorian Government's Community Connections Project and expires in June 2026.

Community safety  

To enhance community safety and to support our growing community, the City requests additional police stations in Huntly and Strathfieldsaye, as well as additional Protective Service Officers for Bendigo Train Station to provide greater coverage throughout the afternoon and early evening. Additionally, implementing the outcome of the Bendigo Bus Network review and separating bus drop off bays along Mitchell Street and distributing buses around the city centre will enhance safety. 

Housing

Former Athletes' Village site - Retreat Road, Flora Hill 

• 7.37ha site, land owned by Development Victoria, within 4km of the Bendigo city centre
• Early works started in mid-2025 and included the removal of vegetation onsite
• Site will feature approximately 160 new homes across a range of lot sizes and dwelling types, including around 56 social and affordable homes
• Close to public transport, La Trobe University, shops and off-road cycling paths
• For more information visit Development Victoria: Flora Hill 

Chum Street, Golden Square

• 14ha vacant Crown land site, within 2km of Bendigo city centre
• Could accommodate approximately 1,200 townhouses/apartments/units
• Close to public transport, schools, shops

Former Golden Square primary school site

• 1.2ha site, Crown land, within 2km of the Bendigo city centre
• Residential Growth Zone
• Would deliver between 45-50 units, plus reuse of the former school building which could be additional accommodation or support services/community uses
• Victorian Government has funded all urban design and planning scheme amendment documentation
• Close to existing services