Toolamba and Old Toolamba Structure Plan

The plan sets out a long-term vision for growth, housing, infrastructure, transport, community facilities, the environment and township character.

The Greater Shepparton City Council endorsed the Toolamba and Old Toolamba Structure Plan 2026 at its April 2026 Council.

Vision for the townships

The plan’s vision is for Toolamba and Old Toolamba to remain linked rural towns that offer a relaxed lifestyle in a quiet, spacious and landscaped setting. The plan seeks to support a connected, healthy, active and resilient community while protecting the area’s environmental, cultural and rural values.

Why the plan is needed

The Structure Plan provides a coordinated framework for future decision-making. It responds to community feedback, planning investigations and infrastructure challenges, including the need for sewerage infrastructure before significant new residential growth can occur.

The plan also identifies where future housing growth should be directed, how Toolamba’s character should be protected, and what improvements are needed to transport, open space, community facilities and infrastructure.

How was the plan developed?

The Toolamba and Old Toolamba Structure Plan was developed using a combination of community feedback, technical studies, previous planning work and input from government agencies and stakeholders. The plan builds on earlier planning between 2018 and 2020, including the Toolamba Growth Plan and Toolamba Precinct Structure Plan work, as well as updated investigations prepared specifically to inform the final Structure Plan.

Key inputs included:

• Community consultation, including community drop-in sessions in June 2024 and consultation on the Draft Structure Plan in July 2025.
• Previous community feedback, including issues raised during earlier engagement processes.
• The Toolamba & District Community Plan 2023–2027, which helped identify local values, priorities and community aspirations.
• Technical assessments, including:
• residential land supply and demand assessment;
• bushfire assessment;
• biodiversity assessment;
• wastewater disposal feasibility considerations; and
• community infrastructure assessment.

The community engagement showed support for growth in Toolamba, provided it is carefully planned, supported by infrastructure and designed to protect the rural character of the townships. Residents highlighted the importance of sewerage infrastructure, improved walking and cycling safety, better transport links, protection of the natural environment, reopening local services such as the general store, and maintaining the quiet, spacious character of Toolamba and Old Toolamba.

How the plan will be implemented

Implementation will involve a combination of planning scheme changes, advocacy, capital works and partnerships with landowners, agencies and the community. Proposed planning changes include updated township boundaries, new planning controls for development areas, protection of biodiversity and heritage values, and rezoning of selected sites to reflect their current or intended use.

Next Steps

A Planning Scheme Amendment (PSA) will be prepared.  A PSA (if approved by the Minister for Planning) provides the mechanism for the structure plan's objectives and directives to be translated into statutory provisions within the planning scheme.