St Arnaud Structure Plan

Council is preparing a Structure Plan for St Arnaud.

The St Arnaud Structure Plan will help guide development for the township. It will establish a clear land-use plan for the future to guide decision-making by council and other stakeholders.

The Structure Plan will be prepared to align with community needs and values and help drive economic investment. It will ensure St Arnaud remains a vibrant township that continues to thrive well into the future.

In 2020 council worked with the community to prepare the St Arnaud Community Plan 2020-30. This plan outlines the many initiatives and projects envisioned for the township over the next ten years. In early 2021 council also consulted with the community, business owners and other stakeholders as part of the Economic Development Strategy and Action Plan 2021-31. Findings of both projects indicated that the Planning Scheme needs updating in order to provide clarity for the community and investors. The St Arnaud Structure Plan will guide land use and facilitate investment to ensure the delivery of these projects. 

The Structure Plan will highlight St Arnaud’s key strategic location in the Northern Grampians as the shire’s second largest township and promote its potential as a place to settle, visit, live, work and play.

To read the initial Emerging Themes paper click on the link below 

220221-NG-StArnaud-SP-Emerging-Themes-9.pdf(PDF, 9MB)

Community Engagement 

Round 1 of community engagement for the St Arnaud Structure Plan ran from February 2022 to April 2022. Council engaged widely and received feedback through surveys, workshops and face-to-face conversations. The feedback has been consolidated into a "What We Heard" report. The report summarises what we heard based on the themes the Emerging Themes paper, and what the next steps are in response. 

To read the St Arnaud Structure Plan "What We Heard" report, click on the link below. 

St-Arnaud-Structure-Plan-Phase-1_Consultation-Outcomes-Report.pdf(PDF, 6MB)

 

 

 

Project Background

The project area covers the township of St Arnaud including farm and industrial land on the periphery. Currently St Arnaud does not have an updated long term strategic plan to guide its future land use outcomes. A structure plan is needed to determine settlement patterns and rural township boundaries, as well as future growth and development directions for housing, commercial and industrial development.

This lack of planning and guidance limits the Township's opportunity to function as a regional service centre in spite of it's strategic location at the junction of the Wimmera and Sunraysia Highways and on the route of Melbourne-Mildura freight. The township also demonstrates extensive built and cultural heritage that is largely unprotected. 

The St Arnaud Structure Plan will address these issues, and seek to enhance what is already great about St Arnaud including art, community, wine and local business and industry. 

We are currently undertaking technical reports to help support what we have already heard from the community. These include a Bushfire Risk Assessment, Industrial Land Supply and Demand Study, Agricultural Land Quality Assessment and Community Facilities and Open Space Gaps Analysis. The combination of this information will guide us in developing actions in the structure plan such as rezonings and allocation of community infrastructure and services. 

 

Project Timeline

Step 1.Background review and investigation 

November 2021-January 2022 

Step 2.Engagement Round #1

March 2022-April 2022

Step 3.Technical Reports Commence 

July 2022

Step 4."What We Heard" Engagement Summary and progress update released

July 2022

Step 5.Exhibition of Draft 

November 2022

Step 6.Engagement Round #2- Gather community feedback and edits to draft as required

November 2022- January 2023

Step 7.Final Structure Plan 

February 2023

Engagement Timeline

In order to understand the needs of the community, in collaboration with Mesh Consultants, Council will run a series of workshops and drop-in sessions. This will give people the chance to tell us what they love about living and working St. Arnaud and where they think there could be changes. Other engagement will include surveys and interactive online mapping tools and the establishment of a Technical Advisory Committee.

Phase 1:

Survey- Feb 14 2022-March 19 2022

Community Forum and Information Evening at St Arnaud Town Hall- March 1st 6pm-9pm

Drop in sessions at St Arnaud Community room April 3 and 10

Submissions taken and interviews with stakeholders continue 

Phase 2:

Release of "What We Heard" engagement summary and progress update 

Exhibition and Feedback on Draft Structure Plan November 2022- January 2023

To receive updates on this project and engagement events click the subscribe button at the bottom of the page 

 

Contact Us

Phone

03 5358 0539

Email

dana.foenander@ngshire.vic.gov.au

Project Lead

Dana Foenander

Strategic Planner 

03 5358 0539

dana.foenander@ngshire.vic.gov.au

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