Long term planning for Talbot’s future gets underway

Published on 14 September 2022

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Integrated planning for Talbot to thrive continues to be a priority for Council.

The planning work - referred to as the Talbot Futures Project - has begun this month, with consultant teams commencing work to deliver two key elements of the project.

The goal of the overall project is to establish an overall vision for the future of Talbot that protects the township’s key heritage and character attributes while allowing for a sustainable level of growth and change.

Developing an updated sewerage scheme design is key to enabling this growth and addressing the environmental issues created by unsewered wastewater management.

The two core components of the project are a town structure plan overseen by Council and an updated and fully costed sewerage scheme plan overseen by Central Highlands Water.

The engineering firm Jacobs has been contracted to undertake the technical and costing assessments for the sewerage scheme and this work has already commenced.

Council has recently appointed Hansen Partnership to lead the structure planning side of the project, in association with SGS Economics and Hello City engagement specialists. 

Both contracts were awarded following a public tender process.

Community engagement will form part of the next, critical stage of the project and will commence in October.

Central Goldfields Shire Mayor and Ward Councillor Chris Meddows-Taylor said having the Talbot community heavily involved in shaping the project is key. 

“We need to understand the aspirations of Talbot locals for their township in terms of character to treasure, environmental values to retain and improve, bushfire and flood risks to consider, and how to best manage growth.”

“We also need to consider the community’s needs for public infrastructure such as a local school and kindergarten, recreation and community facilities, broadband and mobile services and local retail offerings. 

“Growth may support the long-term viability of these core social connectors with benefits for existing and future residents, as well as visitors who are drawn to Talbot’s famous Farmers Market and other hidden charms.

“Next month we’ll be calling on the Talbot community to get involved and I really hope to see as many locals as possible getting involved.”

In September last year, the Victorian Government (Living Regions Living Suburbs Fund) announced $630,000 that has enabled the commencement of the Structure Plan and Business Case for the project. Council is also contributing $60,000 towards this work.

The project is listed in Council’s Priority Projects Plan for advocacy to Government.

 

 

 

 

 

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