Melbourne, VIC, Australia — Investors are rejoiced at the news of a major breakthrough as Parwan Employment Precinct gets incorporated into the planning project of the Victorian Planning Authority (VPA) with plans to recommence PSP works in 2025.
November 2024, the Victorian Planning Authority published the yearly VPA Business Plan 2024-25 with a commitment for working with the Moorabool Shire Council for recommencing the Precinct Structure Plan (PSP) for Parwan EPZ, proposing a strategic framework for creating 1,500 new employment opportunities.
Why does this matter?
The annual VPA Business Plan is the government’s road map for the year ahead for continued developments in housing, infrastructure, industrial growth and employment sectors in Melbourne’s growth zones. This is a part of the long term vision for the upcoming decade.
More precisely, the VPA is responsible for the Precinct Structure Plan (PSP), Infrastructure Contributions Plan (ICP) and Development Contributions Plan (DCP) in Melbourne’s growth areas, as authorized by the Minister of Planning.
This makes it crucial for any Melbourne growth zone to be included in the yearly plans of the VPA if they expect to have their PSP approved with clear guidelines for future developments.
What does this mean for Parwan Employment Precinct Zone?
The inclusion of Parwan EPZ into the Business Plan means that we are now officially in the priority radar of the VPA, and more importantly, this commitment is now public. This places greater emphasis on the VPA to uphold their commitment and fast-track the PSP process for the employment precinct by direct collaboration with the Moorabool Shire Council.
Early January 2023, there were major concerns after the critically endangered species of Victorian Grassland Earless Dragon (VGED) was rediscovered after 50 years with a habitat in Melbourne’s west. This could have potentially delayed further developments for the industrial project if not for a well coordinated initiative by the Victorian Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) to lay out clear guidelines for survey and future developmental works.
This was a very crucial assessment factor for the VPA’s Business Plan and the inclusion and recommencing of the PSP works for the employment precinct. The VPA plan has set us on the right track for the PSP process of Parwan EPZ starting 2025 and we are carrying on with the necessary project deliverables. Our developers associated with Parwan EPZ can now expect a clear direction for presenting planning applications that are coherent with the PSP.
Future ahead for Parwan Employment Precinct Zone
The Parwan Employment Precinct, identified as a growth zone, estimates 50,000 residents by 2041 and proposes to boost connectivity and transportation by developing the Parwan Train Station and Eastern Link arterial road as per the Bacchus Marsh Urban Growth Framework prepared jointly by the VPA and Moorabool Shire Council. In addition to the planned 1,500 new jobs in sectors such as meat processing, mushroom cultivation, and hydroponics and more, the Bacchus Marsh Urban Growth Framework proposes a strategy to transform Parwan EPZ into an industrial hub with vast potential to absorb major agribusiness and industrial investments.
These strategic plans heavily rely on approvals from planning authorities and there has been consistent emphasis from the Moorabool Shire Council on the need of a detailed precinct structure plan.
The VPA is now geared to working with Moorabool Shire Council and local government partners to scale up this project and formally recommence the planning.