The strategy sets out actions and initiatives to guide the evolution of Mount Alexander’s industrial lands and sector with the aim of supporting the economic well being, creativity and sustainability of our community as we respond to the challenges of the 21st century.

The Industrial Design Guidelines will provide a framework to guide and evaluate applications for subdivisions and development.

The guidelines ensure that environmental, amenity and aesthetic matters are addressed and integrated with the practical requirements of industrial use and development.

Council is responsible for facilitating an efficient planning system that encourages investment and employment growth by ensuring there is a suitable supply of commercial land to meet the needs of enterprise, industry, and households.

In fact, Council has a responsibility to ensure there is at least 15 years of zoned industrial land supply to support the continued growth and development of the sector.

In the shire’s primary economic area in Castlemaine, we know there is now less than 10 hectares of available industrial land. If we consider this in light of the shire’s long term annual average consumption of industrial land of 9,000 sqms per annum, then the shire is lacking industrial land supply in its core economic area.

We prepared a strategy to provide direction on the use and development of industrial land in Mount Alexander Shire.

The strategy is being prepared by Council’s Strategic Planning team with the support of experienced industrial strategy consultants, Charter Keck Cramer and Tract. 

We spoke to businesses and the community during three key phases:

• Development of draft Discussion Paper (June 2024)
• Draft Discussion Paper (November - December 2024)
• Draft Strategy and Design Guidelines (August - September 2025)