Development in peri-urban areas

Despite our ‘wide brown land’ image, Australia is one of the most ‘urbanized’ nations in the world. About 90% of our population live in cities and urban centres and Victoria is the fastest growing state in the country.

Source: ABS  Attribution: .id blog - the population experts

Within about 6 years, Melbourne will have more people than Sydney.

Source: ABS  Attribution: Satterley Developers

The State Government is looking to Melbourne’s peri-urban shires to accommodate the city’s rapid expansion. Baw Baw, Bass Coast, Surf Coast, Golden Plains, Macedon Ranges and Moorabool Shires are the peri-urban areas designated to help absorb Melbourne’s sprawl.

Small blocks, big houses, all identical?

By all accounts though, being a designated peri-urban shire doesn’t come with too many benefits. A recent application from Baw Baw Shire for a grant from the ‘Growing Suburbs Fund’ for completion of any (or all?), of three ‘shovel-ready’ projects might help ... a tiny bit. Worthy as the three projects may be, (expansion of an early learning centre in Longwarry, the upgrade of a synthetic soccer ground in Warragul and construction of a multi-use pavilion at the Trafalgar recreation reserve), it would seem to be tinkering at the edges of solving the region’s many infrastructure issues.

There goes the farm: 'Ferntree Ridge' (😕) Weebar Rd Drouin

Our peri-urban shire is losing biodiversity, fertile agricultural land and landscape amenity at an alarming rate. In place of natural bush, rich farmland and beautiful vistas offering a sense of place, we are getting ‘cookie cutter’ developments of large houses on small blocks with a few restored wetlands and some inappropriate street trees on the nature strip.

150 Main South Rd Drouin: Before and after

It is only too obvious that the rapid growth of the two principal towns in Baw Baw is causing considerable negative impacts for their communities and the fear is that this scenario may well be repeated in other towns in the not too distant future. It is very easy to cite examples – our hospital, crowded schools, CBD congestion, increasing crime rates, etc.

It is inevitable that Baw Baw must grow but we need support. To be better resourced at the planning level would be a great start. Our planners are struggling to keep up with conflicting demands from developers and the community and it appears little help is available from Melbourne.

Wherever the solution lies, we need help quickly to overcome many of the significant challenges our shire, our communities, are currently facing.