Bendigo Regional Employment Precinct

The Bendigo Regional Employment Precinct will provide much-needed industrial land for new and existing businesses looking to expand or relocate to Greater Bendigo.

The need for a new employment precinct is significant as there is currently less than 100 hectares of available serviced industrial land in Greater Bendigo. That means less than 10 years’ land supply is left, which impacts our ability to attract and retain businesses. This new employment precinct is needed to meet Greater Bendigo’s long-term industry needs. 

The precinct will create 6,000 direct and indirect jobs.  

With the Marong township forecast to grow to 8,000 people, the Bendigo Regional Employment Precinct will provide employment opportunities for a growing residential population.

The precinct is expected to be directed at advanced manufacturing and logistics businesses, however this is still being confirmed. This project is supported by the business and manufacturing sectors in Greater Bendigo. 

The 294-hectare site is located south of the Marong township along the Calder Alternative and Wimmera Highways, which provides links to Melbourne, Mildura and Adelaide.  

The City has spent several years going through a process of assessing market needs and then considering potential sites. The 155 hectares of land purchased was selected due to its proximity to a growing population, limited environmental constraints, access to transport links and its size.  

The 155ha site consists of two properties. The City had each property independently valued and then negotiated a fair, market-based price with the willing sellers. The purchase price is commercial in confidence information. 

In 2022, the Victorian Government committed $6M towards preparing for the development of the precinct.  

The City is working with the Victorian Planning Authority on planning and design requirements, together with Victorian Government agencies Regional Development Victoria, Department of Transport and Planning, Development Victoria and Coliban Water.  

Current planning and design work will provide advice on future costs associated with connecting utilities and constructing roads within the site.

The City considered around 600 sites before selecting this site. The City also gave individuals an opportunity to put forward potentially suitable sites. After a detailed analysis of sites including infrastructure costs, accessibility, environmental and other constraints, the site south of the Marong township was determined the most suitable.

The Victorian Planning Authority is responsible for preparing a plan to guide future development and infrastructure, and support rezoning for the site.  

A number of background technical studies are now complete, some of which include flora and fauna, traffic and transport, visual analysis and Aboriginal cultural heritage assessments.  

Development Victoria is also providing development and infrastructure advice on the project throughout 2024/2025, to enable a better understanding of the potential of the precinct.  

A water pipeline upgrade between Golden Square and Marong is underway and due for completion in mid-2026. The project will deliver increased water capacity and water flow along the pipeline.  

The preferred Marong Western Freight Corridor alignment has also been confirmed by the Department of Transport, this main transport route to the site will be factored into the overall design. The corridor will travel off the Calder Alternate Highway and along the Wimmera Highway, and turn right along McCreddons Road. This project is not yet funded for construction. 

The first stage of the precinct is expected to be available by approximately 2030 for businesses to move in.  

Part of the planning will consider land use buffers, landscaping and access into the precinct to minimise any impact on nearby residents. The site is expected to attract advanced manufacturing and logistics businesses, and heavy industries are expected to be discouraged. Industrial uses and the required buffers are being investigated.  

The City is aware of the importance of retaining existing vegetation to the Marong and broader community and this is a key consideration in planning for the future precinct. 

The community will have the opportunity to provide feedback once the planning studies are complete and a potential design for the site is prepared. 

City officers can be contacted at any stage about the project via email [email protected] or 1300 002 642.

This site was identified as an industrial investigation precinct in the Marong Township Structure Plan, which was adopted by Council in September 2020. At this time, landowners and those surrounding the precinct were notified of this proposal directly. 

The Marong Township Structure Plan was adopted in 2020. The planning scheme amendment to implement this Structure Plan has been forwarded to the Minister for Planning for approval.

A Shared Infrastructure Funding Plan (SIFP) is being prepared for the Marong Township. The SIFP will detail key infrastructure required to service the town’s future residential development and confirm an appropriate levy for developers to help fund this infrastructure.