A group of Romsey residents has urged Macedon Ranges Shire Council to scrap its draft Romsey Structure Plan and “go back to the drawing board”.
Formally released for consultation last week, the draft plan aims to manage growth and development in Romsey to 2050.
But action group Better Futures Romsey is adamant it doesn’t go far enough to address infrastructure needs.
BFR member Hal Pritchard said infrastructure needs were identified in the 2009 Romsey Outline Development Plan but most had not come to fruition.
“The 2009 document was a better document but it wasn’t actioned,” he said.
“We need a vision, with detailed short, medium and long-term specific goals.”
Mr Pritchard said residents wanted clear information about population expectations for infrastructure like a future high school and improved transport options. BFR has been seeking answers from the state government.
“Romsey is about to double in size and nothing has been fixed. We say, ‘do not move the town boundary until you fix the issues we have’,” Mr Pritchard said.
The draft plan proposes extending the protected settlement boundary to the south-east with new residential and future development stages earmarked.
It notes Romsey is anticipated to “grow towards the lower end of a large district town, which is between 6000 and 10,000 people”.
The draft plan also acknowledges Romsey’s town centre is “not performing at an optimum level”.
“There are a number of under-utilised commercial properties in the centre along with significant vacant floorspace of 13 per cent,” it states.
Romsey Region Business and Tourism Association president, Jenny Stillman, said members had found both positive elements and concerns with the draft plan.
The draft plan includes a ‘Romsey employment precinct’ for the west side of the water treatment plant.
Ms Stillman said identifying the need for employment opportunities was important but members held concern about the proposed employment precinct location.
“Portingales Lane has really struggled in the past to attract business as it needs traffic and exposure,” she said.
“It’s not an attractive area for housing and there are questions about whether it limits the water treatment plant into the future.
“We’ve got a few concerns relating to our vision for economic development.”
RRBATA will formulate a more detailed response with feedback from its broader membership as part of the submission process.
In voting to release the draft structure plan for consultation earlier this month councillors acknowledged the document had flaws.
Councillors encouraged residents to contribute feedback to the plan.
Macedon Ranges Shire Council is now accepting submissions to the draft Romsey Structure Plan. Submissions close 5pm on Monday September 25.
