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Bendigo growth areas face key decisions on housing rollout
Planners must now weigh infrastructure needs and sequencing across multiple sites after early works begin and annual targets are set.
How we reported this
Early works have started at the former Bendigo Teachers' College site in Flora Hill to deliver around 160 new homes, including 56 social and affordable units, with full construction expected in 2027.
The City of Greater Bendigo has set a target of 900 houses each year across five designated growth areas. This commitment comes as multiple projects move from planning into visible site activity, requiring coordinated choices on roads, services and open space.
Named sites and capacity details
Viewpoint Estate in Huntly is listed with capacity for more than 800 homes and includes planned parklands, walking trails and green space. The City of Greater Bendigo growth areas also cover Marong, Junortoun, Maiden Gully and Kangaroo Flat, where annual housing targets apply. In central Bendigo, 73 energy-efficient homes have already been completed on underused land, with 75 percent allocated to the priority housing waitlist.
Another project has seen residents move into the first phase of a lifestyle community, with 26 fully serviced sites finished in Stages 1A and 1B. Civil works on Stage 1C were scheduled to finish by mid-July 2025.
Decisions on sequencing and services
Council officers and state agencies must now decide the order of infrastructure delivery to support the 900-house annual target without overloading existing networks in any single growth area. Choices include the timing of road connections, water and sewer extensions, and the allocation of open space across the five zones.
Further decisions involve how the Flora Hill project integrates with surrounding Flora Hill streets and how Viewpoint Estate's green space links to Huntly's existing trails. These steps will determine when new residents can access services and how the overall supply aligns with the documented annual target.