Funding Win for City of Greater Bendigo & Coliban Water – Marong Housing Development: Sewer Infrastructure Upgrade 

What We’ve Achieved

The City of Greater Bendigo has secured $11.3 million under the Housing Support Program to unlock new housing capacity in Marong. The project, developed in close partnership with Coliban Water, will deliver the sewer infrastructure needed to support more than 2,300 new homes in one of Bendigo’s fastest-growing communities.

Grantus worked closely with Coliban Water as the delivery team and supported the City of Greater Bendigo to submit a high quality application at short notice. This outcome shows the strength of collaborative applications and the practical value of auspicing when an otherwise ineligible organisation is delivering essential enabling infrastructure.

Together, we helped position the project clearly against fund priorities, showing how the works will remove development barriers, reduce costs for future residents, and accelerate housing supply across a key regional growth front.

Funding Context

The Housing Support Program – Community Enabling Infrastructure Stream supports councils and state entities to deliver essential infrastructure that unlocks new, well located housing. The fund prioritises projects that reduce development costs, improve readiness, and catalyse new supply in strategic growth locations.

This upgrade was a strong fit, providing enabling infrastructure that directly unlocks 2,369 new dwellings and strengthens the Marong growth corridor’s alignment with regional planning priorities.

Why It Matters

• Enables 2,369 new homes in a strategic growth area.
• Reduces housing development costs by delivering essential sewer capacity upfront.
• Supports the Bendigo Regional Employment Precinct and future job creation.
• Improves environmental protection by reducing the risk of sewer spills.
• Supports a diverse mix of housing types, including social and affordable housing.

About the Project and Next Steps

The project will upgrade three key sewer pump stations and construct around 6 km of rising mains along the Calder Highway corridor. The works address current capacity constraints influenced by growth and storm events, ensuring the network can support projected demand to 2040.

Detailed design is well progressed, with final design and mobilisation scheduled to commence from late 2024. Construction will be staged through 2025–26, ensuring services remain operational while supporting early subdivision activity across Marong’s growth fronts.

Grantus’ Role

• Developed a strong funding application aligned to HSP objectives.
• Translated technical infrastructure evidence into clear, outcome-focused messaging.
• Coordinated collaboration between City of Greater Bendigo and Coliban Water.
• Helped frame the auspicing approach to ensure project eligibility and strengthen the submission.
• Prepared supporting materials demonstrating readiness, strategic alignment and community benefit.