This Week in Bendigo: New Peppercorn Lane precinct opens, council votes on housing targets

Bendigo residents witnessed two significant developments this week that could reshape neighbourhoods across the city, from the historic Golden Square precinct to emerging residential zones in East Bendigo.

On Tuesday, the long-awaited Peppercorn Lane precinct officially opened to the public following an $8.2 million redevelopment project. The laneway, which runs between View Street and Hargreaves Street in the heart of the CBD, now features weather-protected pedestrian pathways, improved lighting, and five new hospitality venues. Local traders reported strong foot traffic during opening week, with the new spaces attracting shoppers who previously bypassed the area entirely.

"The activation of these secondary streets is crucial for distributing visitor spend across our city centre," said Bendigo Chamber of Commerce representatives, noting that similar precinct investments in comparable regional cities have increased surrounding retail performance by up to 23 per cent within six months.

The developments come as Bendigo City Council voted on Thursday to adopt new medium-density housing targets for suburbs including Huntly, Maiden Gully, and White Hills. The planning amendment aims to accommodate an additional 2,400 residential dwellings across these neighbourhoods by 2036, responding to Victoria's state-wide housing shortage. Council officers indicated that zoning changes would prioritise infill development rather than sprawl, though some residents have raised concerns about parking and local amenity impacts.

Separately, the Bendigo Heritage Precinct recorded its busiest tourism month on record during June, with 42,000 visitors exploring the gold mining history attractions along Pall Mall and around the Bendigo Art Gallery. Tourism Bendigo attributed the surge partly to an international education program drawing student groups from Malaysia, Thailand, and South Korea.

On the community front, the Bendigo Foodbank reported a 34 per cent increase in emergency food requests this quarter compared to the same period last year, with rising living costs cited as the primary driver. The organisation is launching a winter appeal this week across Macedon Street and local shopping precincts.

Finally, construction crews began preparatory work on the Epsom Road transport corridor upgrade, expected to ease congestion between the hospital precinct and the outer suburbs. The 18-month project will affect traffic patterns through July and August, with detours signposted from Chapel Street eastward.

Council advises residents to check bendigo.vic.gov.au for detailed construction updates and development applications currently on public exhibition.

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