Minyip Great Western Low population levels Access to services such as a small primary school and general store with postal facilities may be found in a small retail area Connection to reticulated water is generally available but access to sewer connection varies In popular tourism localities, role may include a low level supply of visitor accommodation and holiday homes with seasonal variation in population Source: Department of Transport, Planning and Local Infrastructure Land use policies, strategies and actions For the regional city, district towns and towns: encourage the provision and maintenance of a wide range of services and facilities provide sufficient land to enable residential and employment growth (note that Halls Gap is not intended to be a focus for conventional residential growth) prioritise infrastructure investment towards supporting growth Support transport systems that provide access to the regional city, district towns and towns Continue to support smaller settlements by allowing for their ongoing transition, maintaining services where feasible and encouraging limited incremental growth if required Identify the need for additional heritage or design controls to protect the valued character of urban areas Encourage urban development that promotes and supports high quality streetscapes and urban design, and contributes to attractive and healthy urban environments Housing diversity and affordability Future directions Provide social infrastructure that is well located and accessible to residential areas, transport services, employment and educational opportunities Support opportunities to increase and renew housing stock Promote new housing which responds to the characteristics and requirements of the region’s population In the Wimmera Southern Mallee, there is a mismatch between the changing structure of households and the available housing stock. The region features a relatively high proportion of small households but has a fairly homogenous housing stock, dominated by detached single dwellings. As the population ages there is likely to be an increased demand for a greater mix of houses including units and aged care housing. Housing for elderly people should be encouraged in the region’s larger, well-serviced towns to help reduce social isolation, particularly Horsham, to take advantage of its local public transport services. Despite low rates of housing stress and high levels of housing affordability, the region has significant challenges in relation to housing. The housing market is not working effectively, for different reasons in different towns. Barriers to investment in housing, in some locations, include low returns compared to other investments, institutional investors such as hospitals competing in the rental housing market and widespread low incomes in some pockets of the region.
Minyip Great Western Low population levels Access to services such as a small primary school and general store with postal facilities may be found in a small retail area Connection to reticulated water is generally available but access to sewer connection varies In popular tourism localities, role may include a low level supply of visitor accommodation and holiday homes with seasonal variation in population Source: Department of Transport, Planning and Local Infrastructure Land use policies, strategies and actions For the regional city, district towns and towns: encourage the provision and maintenance of a wide range of services and facilities provide sufficient land to enable residential and employment growth (note that Halls Gap is not intended to be a focus for conventional residential growth) prioritise infrastructure investment towards supporting growth Support transport systems that provide access to the regional city, district towns and towns Continue to support smaller settlements by allowing for their ongoing transition, maintaining services where feasible and encouraging limited incremental growth if required Identify the need for additional heritage or design controls to protect the valued character of urban areas Encourage urban development that promotes and supports high quality streetscapes and urban design, and contributes to attractive and healthy urban environments Housing diversity and affordability Future directions Provide social infrastructure that is well located and accessible to residential areas, transport services, employment and educational opportunities Support opportunities to increase and renew housing stock Promote new housing which responds to the characteristics and requirements of the region’s population In the Wimmera Southern Mallee, there is a mismatch between the changing structure of households and the available housing stock. The region features a relatively high proportion of small households but has a fairly homogenous housing stock, dominated by detached single dwellings. As the population ages there is likely to be an increased demand for a greater mix of houses including units and aged care housing. Housing for elderly people should be encouraged in the region’s larger, well-serviced towns to help reduce social isolation, particularly Horsham, to take advantage of its local public transport services. Despite low rates of housing stress and high levels of housing affordability, the region has significant challenges in relation to housing. The housing market is not working effectively, for different reasons in different towns. Barriers to investment in housing, in some locations, include low returns compared to other investments, institutional investors such as hospitals competing in the rental housing market and widespread low incomes in some pockets of the region.
Wimmera-Southern-Mallee-Regional-Growth-Plan-May-2014.docx