Gold Camp Castlemaine committee update timeline on the 2026 process to now 4 June 2026
Re: PA077/2025 Camp Reserve 11 Forest St Castlemaine (Council commissioned Master Plan)
- Council appointed external consultants Taylors Development Strategists – taylors.com.au From Notting Hill Melbourne to manage the Camp Reserve Planning Application on Council’s behalf and to submit it, and to defend it in VCAT if required. It consists of over 20 consultant reports.
- Council has divided its planning department with confidentiality between two teams. One team to work with Taylors and the other to independently assess the application and to provide official council advice to councillors regarding the application.
- A public advertising period Feb-March 2026 has closed and an objectors submission process has happened.
- Gold Camp Castlemaine held a public meeting at the Old Castlemaine Gaol, 15 March 2026 to inform the public.
- An objectors/supporters/applicant meeting was held at Mt Alexander Shire Council Chambers on Tuesday May 5 6pm-8pm. Approx 14 speakers for and against presented.
- Council Meeting May 19 May 2026 The PA077/2025 came before council for a decision whether to grant a Planning Permit. After much debate it was deferred to a future meeting with directions for council officers to prepare grounds for refusal. This was neither a decision to grant nor deny a planning permit. This meeting can be watched on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoVJPGkHVoA&t=8s
Minutes of the May 19 2026 Meeting can be downloaded: https://www.mountalexander.vic.gov.au/files/assets/public/v/1/files/3.-council/council-meetings/agendas-amp-minutes/2026/meeting-of-council-19-may-2026-minutes.pdf
- Community and media have been confused about the outcome of the meeting. Win TV and ABC Central Victoria have run items, as well as local print outlets.
- Rush Wright Associates, an external consultancy, has been engaged by Gold Camp Castlemaine to prepare an independent peer review of PA077/2025 and to look with fresh eyes at the planning impasse to see if there is a viable plan that will bring community together. And it seems that there is a very promising scheme, which has something for everyone and that emerges from the extensive work prepared by council. A scheme that meets most of the stakeholders needs and addresses stakeholder feedback.
- Gold Camp Castlemaine has requested an opportunity to present this revision of the plans and review of PA077/2025 to Councillors and officers via a delegation.
- Community Meeting Information Session
Castlemaine Town Hall
Thursday 11 June 4pm-5:30pm
A whole of Community meeting at the Town Hall will be held on as an opportunity for rush wright associates to present a review and a new vision that holds the promise of bringing us together with a new plan – neither Council’s nor Gold Camp Castlemaine’s but with some of everything plus more.
Please come along to find out more.
