Council Approves $12m Pall Mall Revamp as Bendigo Eyes New Chapter

Bendigo's city council has voted unanimously this week to proceed with a $12 million rejuvenation of the Pall Mall heritage precinct, marking a significant win for advocates pushing the council to revitalise the city's Victorian streetscape.

The decision, made at Tuesday's extraordinary council meeting, represents a major step forward after months of community consultation and feasibility studies. The project will encompass facade restoration, improved street lighting, new pedestrian pathways and enhanced public spaces across the cultural quarter stretching from View Street to Queen Street.

"This is about reclaiming Pall Mall as the heart of our cultural identity," said a spokesperson for the Bendigo Heritage Alliance, which has campaigned for the upgrade since 2023. Preliminary works are expected to commence in early 2027, with staged completion by late 2029.

The announcement comes as council faces mounting pressure to address Bendigo's chronic accommodation shortage. The region is currently experiencing an acute housing crisis, with median rental prices climbing 28 per cent over the past two years to $450 per week for a two-bedroom apartment—pricing out younger residents and key workers.

Parallel to the Pall Mall decision, councillors confirmed they will fast-track approvals for two long-stalled mixed-use developments: a 180-unit residential tower on Golden Square Drive and a smaller 65-apartment complex near the Bendigo Train Station. Both projects have languished in assessment limbo for over 18 months.

The council's acceleration of housing approvals reflects growing alarm about workforce retention. Local hospitals, schools and aged care facilities have reported sustained recruitment difficulties, with many attributing the problem to unaffordable local accommodation.

However, the week wasn't without controversy. Concerns were raised during public comment at this Friday's planning committee about gentrification risks tied to the Pall Mall works. Local business owners and long-term residents expressed worry that revitalisation could drive up commercial rents, forcing out independent retailers.

Councillors acknowledged the concern but maintained that staged implementation and a dedicated small-business support fund—worth $800,000—would help protect existing traders.

The council also confirmed that the ongoing Charing Cross intersection upgrade remains on track for completion by December, with traffic management improving progressively as works advance.

City planners will present detailed designs for the Pall Mall project at next month's public forum, with community feedback invited until August 15.

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