The country town that’s set to double in population
For decades, Riddells Creek has been a sleepy rural town beneath the picturesque Macedon Ranges where geese wander freely and a trip to the shops means bumping into plenty of familiar faces.
But big change is now coming for this country community, which has been earmarked for a residential explosion. Plans for a property development would double the size of Riddells Creek, which lies just beyond Melbourne’s northern outskirts.
The wandering geese of Riddells Creek.Credit: Justin McManus
Residents are now hitting back at the development plan, arguing it would destroy the rural character and undermine the close nature of their community.
The Victorian government is considering new planning conditions and a permit application allowing for residential development at a large site in Amess Road in Riddells Creek.
A long-term plan for the site prepared by Echelon Planning, on behalf of Banner Asset Management – which owns much of the land – says the Amess Road precinct would have about 1360 homes accommodating about 3800 residents.
In the 2021 census, Riddells Creek had a population of almost 3600. In 2011, it was just under 2800.
The site of proposed development at Riddells Creek. Credit: Justin McManus
“The Amess Road precinct will create an attractive extension to the existing Riddells Creek township, providing long-term residential growth for Macedon Ranges Shire,” the Echelon planning document says.
Stage one would include 182 lots and further growth may occur over decades. The plans include lot sizes ranging from less than 350 square metres for “attached housing” to 800 square metres for larger lots.
Simon Were is among the Riddells Creek residents fighting the proposed development, and argues its scale and the small lot sizes would wipe out the town’s rural identity.
He said excessive development had been allowed almost unimpeded in Melbourne’s growth areas without sufficient infrastructure, and the country atmosphere of Riddells Creek should be protected.
Macedon Ranges councillor Dominic Bonanno (left) and Riddells Creek residents Simon Were, Ross Colliver and Aaron Goldsworthy at the site of the proposed development.Credit: Justin McManus
“It will no longer be that beautiful place.”
The development would put unacceptable pressure on the town – even its geese, he said.
“The geese are Riddells Creek. They do stop traffic many times a day.”
Were agrees that development should proceed at Riddells Creek. But he said it was inappropriate to build high density housing on small lots on the town’s outskirts, when they should go closer to the town centre instead.
Riddells Creek’s main drag. Locals are worried the town will lose its country feel.Credit: Justin McManus
“That’s where they’re close to amenities – the train station, supermarket, post office, doctors.”
He said lot sizes should be no smaller than 800 square metres with a maximum of nine lots per “buildable” hectare, while making it safe for pedestrians, cyclists and emergency services to move around the town.
Residents were concerned that a population surge would quickly overwhelm their infrastructure, including roads and schools,” he said.
Macedon Ranges Shire councillor Dominic Bonanno, who contested the state seat of Macedon for the Liberal Party at the 2022 election, said the council last year rejected development plans for the site.
Residents say a housing development will put a big strain on Riddells Creek’s infrastructure.Credit: Justin McManus
“We felt it didn’t meet the neighbourhood character – just the sheer size of it,” he said.
Professor Andrew Butt, from the RMIT Centre for Urban Research, said low density development was the norm for Riddells Creek during the 1970s and ’80s, but it would now benefit from some higher-density housing.
“We should be looking at concentrated development around the town centre,” he said.
Butt said Riddells Creek was attractive to developers because it was close to Melbourne and the airport and had a V/Line railway station.
Riddells Creek is quiet but is attractive to developers because it’s close to Melbourne and the airport and has a V/Line train station.Credit: Justin McManus
However, he warned that Riddells Creek would require additional infrastructure, such as schools, and more jobs if it were to accommodate substantial population growth.
“Riddells Creek is a pub and a couple of shops, really, in the middle of town,” he said.
“Do we want a town that’s got sufficient commercial and social infrastructure? Or do we want everyone to live there and leave every day, which is probably not desirable?”
Echelon Planning and Banner Asset Management both declined to comment on their plans.
Across Victoria, the state government is grappling with the tension between soaring demand for housing and the resulting pushback from communities seeking to protect their neighbourhoods and lifestyle.
In nearby Gisborne, the population is expected to soar from about 14,200 in 2021 to an estimated 20,100 by 2036.
The government is due to decide on the future of Riddells Creek by August and notify the public of its decision in September.
A government spokeswoman said any proposal for Riddells Creek would be considered on merit.
She said the council and strategic regional plans had identified Riddells Creek as a preferred growth location. The sizes of lots provided a range of housing options to meet the community’s needs, she said.
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