Council has endorsed the next steps for a proposed amendment to the Greater Bendigo Planning Scheme to rezone land and create a buffer at the Bendigo Water Reclamation Plant at Howard Street, Epsom.
Owned by Coliban Water, the plant has a range of facilities that receive and treat sewage generated from approximately 45,000 residential, commercial, and industrial buildings across the region.
Most of the sewage to the plant comes through underground sewerage pipes. Some septic tank waste is also delivered to the site by trucks.
The treatment plant is close to homes and businesses as well as farming and conservation land.
Amendment C237gben proposes to rezone the land at the site and create a buffer area around the Bendigo Water Reclamation Plant to provide additional planning controls. This is to guide what types of buildings and activities are appropriate within the odour buffer area in the future, based on potential off-site environmental impacts from odours from the plant.
What the draft Amendment proposes:
- Rezone the Bendigo Water Reclamation Plant from Farming Zone (FZ) and Low Density Residential Zone (LDRZ) to Public Use Zone (PUZ1)
- Apply the Buffer Area Overlay (BAO) to land within an odour buffer area of the Bendigo Water Reclamation Plant site
- Introduce two schedules (Schedule 3 and 4) to the Buffer Area Overlay and nominate Coliban Water as a determining referral authority for planning applications in this Overlay
Mayor Cr Thomas Prince said the proposed amendment was important for several reasons.
"As the planning authority, it is the City's role to ensure future development close to the plant is appropriate and that any potential off-site environmental impacts from land uses are properly factored in," Cr Prince said.
"The Bendigo Water Reclamation Plant is essential for treating wastewater for homes and businesses across Greater Bendigo. Careful planning is needed that balances growth in the area and the plant's future operations.
"The proposed overlay is not a response to a new odour incident or change in current operations. It is intended to guide future planning decisions around essential wastewater infrastructure."
Following Council endorsement, the next step is to submit a request for authorisation of the Amendment to the Victorian Minister for Planning. If authorised, the Amendment would then be placed on public exhibition for one month. Affected landowners, the wider community and agencies will be able to provide a submission on the Amendment during this stage.
