Federation Council is pleased to provide the community with an update on its Growth Management Strategy development. The strategy is a comprehensive 25-year roadmap designed to unify the region's planning framework and secure the long-term financial and environmental future of the community.
The strategy prioritises housing diversity, economic expansion, and sustainable infrastructure, ensuring Council can accommodate a growing and ageing population while protecting the region's vital agricultural "food bowl." The growth strategy will lead and inform any new LEP in the future, acting as the blueprint the write the new LEP.
A primary focus of the strategy is managing the region's infrastructure capacity. Current water and sewage systems in Corowa, Howlong, and Mulwala are nearing capacity. The report presented to the May Council meeting identifies a requirement for $280 million in upgrades over the next 15 years, including a $130 million investment for water treatment and $154 million for sewerage systems.
Looking forward, the strategy also focuses on the region's smaller towns and villages. Land surrounding communities such as Urana and Oaklands will be explored for opportunities to introduce smaller lot sizes, catering to hobby farms and acreage lifestyle blocks.
A significant portion of the foundational work involves critical water, sewer, and flood management strategic planning. Aligning these complex, essential services with future land use is vital to informing the overall growth strategy. While this extensive planning has taken time, it has been steadily advancing as required to ensure the final strategy is robust, accurate, and sustainable.
Federation Council Mayor, Cr Cheryl Cook, said the strategy is about more than just maps and zoning - it is about ensuring the Federation region remains a vibrant, affordable, and sustainable place to live for the next quarter-century.
"By aligning our land use with our actual infrastructure capacity, we are protecting our ratepayers from unmanageable costs and ensuring that growth happens in the right place at the right times," Mayor Cook said.
"We are committed to a 'grown-up' approach to development that respects our agricultural heritage while embracing the housing and industrial opportunities of the future."
With 45.6% of the local government area (LGA) now identifying as an ageing population, the strategy aims to shift away from a near-total reliance on separate houses toward medium-density dwellings and seniors housing. Simultaneously, it protects the 92% of land dedicated to agriculture by preventing the fragmentation of productive farms into small, unproductive lots.
Council will move into round two consultations in the second half of 2026. This will include a 28-day public exhibition of the draft strategy on the Council's website and at local offices, drop-in information sessions, and an agency collaboration with the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) to ensure all plans meet state requirements.
Following the exhibition period, all community feedback will be reported back to the Council to inform the final decision-making process, paving the way for the development of a new Local Environmental Plan for Federation Council.
