Parwan Employment Precinct

Project update

The critically endangered Victorian Grassland Earless Dragon (VGED) was recently found at a location west of Melbourne. It is the first time the lizard species has been sighted in more than 50 years, and it was previously considered likely to be extinct.

The Victorian Planning Authority (VPA) has been advised that the Parwan Employment Precinct has been identified as a habitat that would support the VGED. This means that progress on the preparation of a place-based plan for the precinct has been paused until the surveys have been undertaken, and any conservation response has been determined.

The VPA is working closely with the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) to understand how the surveys to identify potential populations of VGED will be carried out for Parwan Employment Precinct.

These surveys will need to be undertaken to collect more information on the species and its habitat to inform precinct structure plans, projects and potential conservation measures. The surveys will need to be undertaken over warmer months, starting in the summer of 2023/24.

This work will impact the timing of the Parwan Employment PSP.

For more information please visit the VPA website.

About the project

Council, in partnership with the Victorian Planning Authority (VPA), has been progressing strategic planning for the development of the Parwan Employment Precinct (PEP), south of Bacchus Marsh.
The PEP has the potential to deliver employment opportunities in excess of 1,500 people and will also help redress the large number of people leaving the Shire daily for employment. Current figures show that 60% of residents travel outside of Moorabool Shire for work, with many commuting to Melbourne, resulting in a loss of $20 million from the Shire annually.
The precinct will attract significant levels of new industrial and agribusiness investment to the region, and businesses that value-add and complement the Bacchus Marsh Irrigation District and the future Western Irrigation Network.
This project will provide much-needed employment opportunities for local residents, generating approximately $186 million for the regional economy.

Investment opportunities

Gas city gate connection
The construction for the gas city gate is now complete. MSC was successful in the grant application submitted to Regional Development Victoria for the network planning assessments for power, water and sewer in Parwan.  This is a joint project with Greater Western Water and Powercor. This is a significant step for understanding the requirements to service Parwan.

Infrastructure 
Council, together with Regional Development Victoria and Greater Western Water, have jointly contributed $250,000 towards network planning investigations to determine the level of infrastructure required to adequately service the precinct. Service infrastructure investment to provide for power, water, sewer and drainage is estimated in the region of $80 million.

Meetings have been held with Melbourne Water to understand the drainage opportunities and constraints for the Parwan Precinct. We have also held meetings with NBN and other providers for internet.

Infrastructure investment estimates:

  • Power $11.75 million
  • Water $22 million
  • Sewer $16 million
  • Drainage $31 million

    Further information

    For more information on the PEP please visit the VPA website

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