Like other communities in Victoria, the Alpine Shire is growing and changing. Planning for the future is more important than ever.
The Alpine Shire Land Development Strategy 2024 (LDS) is a key plan that outlines how the shire will grow and develop until 2041 and beyond.
Key findings
The Alpine Shire Land Development Strategy:
- projects that Alpine Shire will grow to 15,890 people by 2041, an increase of around 2,734 people in the 20 years from 2021. It is expected that there will be a need for an additional 2,167 houses across the Shire to 2041 to accommodate this growth (75 per cent of this demand is expected to flow to urban settlements (1,625 dwellings) and 25 per cent to rural areas (542 dwellings))
- establishes there is capacity for 1,266 (~77%) of the 1,625 homes needed by 2041 in areas already zoned for urban use (e.g., existing towns and settlements). Under the existing policy settings, there will be a shortfall of ~360 dwellings in existing settlements by 2041, with the largest housing demand projected in the Bright and Porepunkah townships
- identifies about 22,000m2 of additional commercial and industrial land on in service towns by 2041 to accommodate future employment activity and attract new industry. This includes consideration for future growth in Myrtleford/Barwidgee to ensure there is some capacity for new industry or larger scale manufacturers in the future
- provides updated framework plans for the four Service Towns of Bright, Mount Beauty-Tawonga South, Myrtleford and Porepunkah to show investigation opportunities capable of accommodating the housing shortfall as well as opportunities to increase the amount of employment land across the municipality.
The LDS also:
- identifies constraints to development e.g., flooding, bushfire, and infrastructure and servicing need
- identifies key trends that have shifted demand for housing
- enables change that responds to the valued character and qualities that distinguish each of the municipality’s townships and settlements
- demonstrates to the Department of Transport and Planning how Alpine Shire will accommodate future housing and employment land consistent with community values
- identifies the future role and function of the settlements to guide future decision-making for liveable places
- provides the basis and scope for future structure planning in the four Service Towns to addresses neighbourhood character, encourage greater housing diversity and accommodate employment activities
The Land Development Strategy does not:
- Provide detailed guidance on rural and rural residential land use or smaller settlement areas – this will be addressed via the review of the Alpine Shire Rural Land Strategy
- Allow any areas to proceed immediately to rezoning for housing or employment uses
- Provide guidance on community services or open space.
Community Engagement
From October 2022 to February 2023, Council undertook community consultation on the Alpine Shire Land Development Strategy.
- Read Your Town, Your Future - Future Directions Paper - Summary Document
- Read the Your Town, Your Future - Future Directions Paper - Full Document
From October 2023 to December 2023 the Draft Land Development Strategy was endorsed by Council and for public consultation. This consultation resulted in 25 submissions.