Future Hepburn

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Future Hepburn is a settlement strategy for the whole of Hepburn Shire. It aims to protect and enhance the existing character and productivity of our farming areas, towns and rural settlements through planning strategies for land use and development across the Shire.  

Following extensive community consultation, and expert input, Council adopted the six Future Hepburn strategies on 3 September 2024.

This project covers a Rural Strategy, Township Structure Plans for Clunes, Creswick, Daylesford-Hepburn Springs, Trentham, Glenlyon, and an Integrated Transport Strategy.

Implementation plan

On 27 May 2025, Council endorsed an implementation plan for the directions, recommendations and actions in these strategies. Further community consultation will take place, including through planning scheme amendments and other implementing actions. 

To view the endorsed Implementation Plan and overview document Click here(PDF, 4MB)

Video explanation of Rural Hepburn and Township Structure Plans (Aug 2024)


Integrated Transport Strategy

The Integrated Transport Strategy will plan for a local transport system that can efficiently and safely connect people to their everyday needs, catering for residents, workers and visitors alike. It will recognise the need for better transport connections within and between townships in the Shire and beyond. 

The strategy will also cover recreational infrastructure such as walking and cycling trails and will address how good transport can promote economic prosperity and environmental sustainability. 

Council published the discussion paper below in 2023.

Transport discussion paper, integrated transport strategy for Hepburn Shire(PDF, 2MB)

 

 

Timeline

Timeline

April to May 2023 - Community activation

April to September 2023 - Initial community engagement

  • Rural Hepburn: Agricultural Land and Rural Settlement Strategy survey held from 13 April to 12 May 2023.
  • Township Structure Plan surveys held from 17 May to 2 July 2023.
  • Township Structure Planning Community Conversations held between 29 May and 8 June 2023.
  • Rural Hepburn: Agricultural Land and Rural Settlement Strategy survey findings released - July 2023.
  • Integrated Transport: Transport & Trip Behaviour survey held from 18 September to 22 October 2023.

October to November 2023 - Deeper community engagement - Township Community Panels

  • Five Township Community Panels worked on developing a shared vision and six key objectives for their township's draft structure plan.

1 May to 26 June 2024 - Township Structure Plans and Rural Hepburn open for community feedback

  • Almost 600 public submissions received, community information sessions across the Shire and Online webinars.

September 2024 - Township Structure Plans and Rural Hepburn adopted by Council (3 September 2024 Council report)

  • Council made several changes in response to submissions before adopting final versions of each document. 

May 2025 - Future Hepburn implementation plan adopted by Council (27 May 2025 Council report). 

  • Council decided to enact the settlement strategy framework with farming, environmental and character protections first, before moving to facilitate housing and business expansion changes. Council aims to complete these planning scheme changes by 2028.

Winter 2025- Consultations

  • draft Hepburn Integrated Transport Strategy.
  • main town growth changes adopted by Council on 3 September 2024 - namely Clunes industrial and commercial areas, Daylesford residential and industrial areas and Trentham residential consolidation.

 

More information

If you would like to follow the Future Hepburn process from 2023 to now, please visit here

You will also find many FAQ's relating to the project.