Council Charts Path Forward on Planning and Remediation After Budget Approval

Greater Bendigo City Council adopted its $280 million budget for 2026-27, directing nearly $100 million to roads, buildings, parks and community facilities, while caretaker mode restricts new major commitments until after the October 24 postal ballot.

The timing matters because the council forecast a $9.4 million deficit for the current year and took a $3 million loan to cover it, yet still approved further steps on long-running projects that will shape spending and land-use rules well into the next term.

City centre planning moves ahead

Council endorsed Amendment C279gben to the Greater Bendigo Planning Scheme, introducing new activity zones, heritage guidelines and parking overlays under the Bendigo City Centre Plan. The public exhibition and approval process is expected to run 12-18 months, locking in zoning changes that will guide future development applications across the central business district.

At the same time, proposed heritage overlays for 18 sites remain under consideration and could affect a $30 million hotel project already on the council’s books. Any final decision on those overlays will fall to the incoming council after the election.

Gasworks cleanup enters next phase

A remediation plan to halt contaminated runoff from the Bendigo Gasworks site into Bendigo Creek has been completed and approved by the EPA. A site management plan must now be prepared over the next six months, setting out ongoing monitoring and maintenance requirements once the initial works finish.

The council also confirmed construction will start on the $45 million Stage 1 redevelopment of the Bendigo Art Gallery, backed by $9 million in council funds and more than $34 million from external sources, providing one concrete infrastructure project that can proceed under caretaker rules.

Residents can track progress on Amendment C279gben through the council’s planning portal and will receive updates on the Gasworks site management plan once the EPA receives the six-month document. The October 24 election remains the next formal opportunity for the community to influence who will oversee these continuing decisions.