By Oliver Lees
With working arrangements becoming more flexible, Victorians are expected to move further from Melbourne in a trend that could impact the Macedon Ranges, according to new modelling.
The Infrastructure Victoria report released last week uses long-term modelling to predict how lifestyle choices may impact infrastructure requirements across the state.
Infrastructure Victoria estimates that if a third of workers are working from home two to three days by 2036, the state’s population will be more spread around regional cities and peri-urban areas, such as the Macedon Ranges.
Infrastructure Victoria acting chief executive Jonathan Spear said local governments should be prepared for the possibility that people will flock to the regions.
“When people can work from home some days each week, they are willing to tolerate longer commutes on their fewer days in the office,” Dr Spear said.
“But access to major job precincts remains a factor in people’s housing choices, which means these dispersion effects occur in the immediate vicinity of Melbourne and big regional cities, but do not extend to other regional areas further away.”
The report recommends that local government employ strong planning protections to protect environmentally sensitive areas as well as township boundaries to assist in mapping sustainable population growth.
Under the Distinctive Areas and Landscapes Act, Macedon Ranges council is one of only four council areas in the state with specific planning controls to protect the native features of the shire.
Council also has protected settlement boundaries active in Kyneton Riddells Creek, Woodend and Lancefield.
A Macedon Ranges council spokesperson said planning for the needs of the shire’s growing population was a top priority.
The timely delivery of infrastructure and services as development progresses in each of our main towns is identified as critical to support the social and economic needs of our community and to increase resilience to climate change effects,” the spokesperson said.
“Currently council is progressing the Gisborne Futures project and the Romsey Structure Plan process that will inform a protected settlement boundary for both of these towns.”
