Feature Profiles
19 June, 2026
Growth Zones , More shops and Homes
BIG changes are on the horizon for key Loddon growth towns Bridgewater and Inglewood.
BIG changes are on the horizon for key Loddon growth towns Bridgewater and Inglewood.
Hundreds more houses - and people - and planning scheme changes that will see the key shopping precincts zoned for commercial use.
Managing growth in Bridgewater where floodwaters have risen above the banks of the Loddon River three times in 15 years, or Inglewood where several sides of the town are flanks for bushfire-risk forests have shaped town structure plans.
Loddon Shire Council on Tuesday adopted the draft plans that go out for more public consultation.
Community talks have already seen residents dare to dream. Childcare in the two towns high on the list, so too possible reinstatement of passenger rail services into Bendigo ditched decades ago when the future of small rural towns was shrouded in gloom and doom.
When old shops became private homes and people looked further afield for work.
Today, there can be as many travelling from Bendigo into Loddon communities for employment and there is anticipation that the Census in August will record a shire-wide population above 8000 for the first time since local government amalgamation in the mid-1990s. The signs are there with more than 30 now sold at the Bridgewater Rise housing estate and capacity for as many to become available in the future.
According to Loddon Mayor Dan Straub: “We’ve already had some excellent community feedback as the drafts were being prepared but now’s your chance to really dive into what is being proposed and have your say. So what does the draft plans say?
Homes in the east
The Bridgewater Structure Plan will provide for at least 120 additional homes in the new residential areas. Future growth is directed away from flood prone land to reduce community risk, with new residential land primarily located to the east of the existing urban area.
Economic growth will be supported through industrial activity and tourism, with new retail uses encouraged in Main Street. A small amount of new industrial land will be provided to support local employment and business opportunities.
Pedestrian activity will be facilitated through street tree planting and improvements to Main Street.
Visual and pedestrian connections to the river will be improved to highlight this valuable asset, enhance town amenity and encourage passing traffic to stop.
It is proposed that the residential areas be rezoned Neighbourhood Residential Zone, from the current Township Zone. This will facilitate residential development and protect urban amenity.
A small extension to the Low Density Residential Zone is proposed at the southern end of Arnold Road to reflect existing land use. The Township Zone land on the north side of the railway line on the Bridgewater Serpentine Road is recommended to be rezoned Farming Zone to reflect existing land use and is not considered suitable or required for urban development at this time.
Land along Main Street will be rezoned Commercial Zone to facilitate retail use and development.
Minimising risk
The Inglewood Structure Plan will provide for at least 100 additional homes in the new residential areas, with growth being directed to the east and south east of town away from the greatest bushfire risk.
The CFA have provided strong direction that development must be minimised to the north and west of town to reduce risk to life and property from bushfire.
There is also some capacity for growth within the existing residential area and beyond town in the rural residential areas.
As with Bridgewater, it is proposed that land intended for residential use be rezoned to a residential zone, as opposed to the current Township Zone.
It is recommended that the Neighbourhood Residential Zone be used for those areas where growth and standard residential density is proposed.
This includes the existing Township zoned land through much of the town, plus three new areas, on Station Street and Borung Street. Land on the north, north west, and west fringe of town is proposed to be rezoned Low Density Residential and Rural Living to recognise the residential function of the land but minimise development density in response to the bushfire risk assessment. It is also proposed to rezone the industrial estate to Low Density Residential as the site has not been successful as an industrial location.
The Inglewood structure plan also aims to deliver a more diverse visitor economy and vibrant main street.
It is recommended that rezoning the town centre from Township Zone to Commercial 1 Zone will provide clearer direction on the role and function of the centre as the commercial and civic heart of the town, while also reducing the need for planning permits for compatible uses.
The structure plan supports the implementation of the Inglewood Streetscape Plans, as a way to enhance the economy and liveability of the town.
Read More: Bridgewater, Inglewood