Economic indicators and investment flows explained clearly

Bendigo recorded $87 million in new business investment commitments during the three months to June, according to City of Greater Bendigo figures released on 8 July.

The increase reflects decisions by manufacturers and developers to commit capital now while interest rates remain steady and state infrastructure grants are still open for applications through the Regional Development Victoria program.

Projects along Hargreaves Street and in Epsom

Two active sites illustrate the pattern. A $29 million warehouse and logistics facility is under construction at the Sandhurst Business Park on the western edge of Epsom, backed by a Melbourne-based freight operator. At the same time, a mixed-use office and retail building is rising on the corner of Hargreaves Street and Mitchell Street in the CBD, financed partly by local superannuation funds and scheduled for completion by March 2027.

The Bendigo Chamber of Commerce has tracked 14 separate planning applications lodged in the past six weeks, most of them for light-industrial or commercial fit-outs rather than speculative residential work.

Key metrics behind the inflows

Unemployment in the City of Greater Bendigo stood at 3.9 per cent in May, down from 4.4 per cent twelve months earlier, while median commercial rents along Pall Mall rose to $412 per square metre. Foreign direct investment accounted for $31 million of the June quarter total, concentrated in advanced manufacturing equipment rather than property.

These indicators matter because they show where new jobs are forming and which sectors are expanding before the next round of federal regional grants opens in September.

Businesses considering expansions should review the September quarter data due in mid-October and check eligibility for the current Regional Jobs and Investment Packages before lodging applications with the City of Greater Bendigo economic development team.

This article is general information only and is not personal financial or investment advice. Consider your own circumstances and seek licensed professional advice before making financial decisions.