The C270gben Planning Scheme amendment which covers Golden Square, part of Ironbark and part of the city centre has been approved by the Minister for Planning and has come into effect.
The Amendment implements key strategic work adopted by Council in 2022, including the Golden Square Structure Plan (City of Greater Bendigo, January 2022), Golden Square Urban Design Framework (City of Greater Bendigo, January 2022), and the Golden Square Heritage Study Stage 2, Volumes 1 and 2 (City of Greater Bendigo, Minerva Heritage, Context and Homewood Consulting, January 2022).
Manager Strategic Planning Anthony Petherbridge said extensive planning work was required to prepare the amendment.
"The amendment provides clarity and important updates that has meant changing some overlays and zones where it was deemed appropriate," Mr Petherbridge said.
"Amendment C270gben represents an important milestone for Golden Square. It implements key strategies from the Structure Plan and Urban Design Framework, strengthens heritage protection by updating and refining Heritage Overlay coverage, and provides a clear planning framework to support the area's future development."
The amendment changes included:
- Rezoning 2.76ha of land at Allingham Street and Ham Street, Golden Square from General Residential Zone to Industrial 3 Zone
- Rezoning 7930sqm of land at Belle Vue Road, Godfrey Street and Hattam Street, Golden Square from General Residential Zone and Industrial 1 Zone to Industrial 3 Zone
- Deleting 31 heritage overlays, revise 4 heritage precinct boundaries, insert 12 new heritage precincts and 31 new individual heritage places affecting 1,298 properties
- Applying the Design and Development Overlay, Schedule 34 to properties around Golden Square Neighbourhood Activity Centre
- Deleting the Neighbourhood Character Overlay from properties where a heritage overlay is proposed
- Updating the existing local planning policies relating to settlement, activity centres, urban forest interface, landscaping, location of residential development, business, industrial land supply, public transport, freight links, social and cultural infrastructure and open space and public land to incorporate relevant strategies from the Golden Square Structure Plan
- Inserting new local planning policies relating to walking, cycling, health facilities and cultural facilities to incorporate relevant strategies from the Golden Square Structure Plan
- Updating operational provisions to introduce incorporated and background documents, new map pages and revise further strategic work clauses to reflect the work undertaken as part of this amendment.
At the Greater Bendigo Council meeting in October 2025, Councillors adopted the revised C270gben Planning Scheme Amendment, incorporating changes recommended by the Planning Panel and City officers, and resolved to submit the adopted amendment to the Minister.
Council endorsed the independent Panel's recommendation to retain a Heritage Overlay for a property at 46-48 Old Violet Street, Bendigo, along with several nearby properties on Pitt and Olive Streets.
One of the independent Panel's recommendations was not supported. The amendment originally proposed removing the existing Heritage Overlay from a property at 130 High Street and applying a new individual HO986. The building was demolished following significant structural damage to the property in July 2025. Consequently, Council endorsed the recommendation not to apply a Heritage Overlay.
