Michelago Master Plan

There is a growing demand for rural properties in places like Michelago from people looking for a rural lifestyle within a short distance of Canberra. Michelago is at a crossroads where it could either remain a rural village or grow into a small town. While increasing housing may contribute to improvements in Michelago’s infrastructure, community facilities and business opportunities, we know that residents also want to preserve what they love about their hometown.

Council has therefore initiated a masterplan process to guide Michelago through these important decisions, ensuring the town evolves purposefully and that the community gets a say in its future.

Where we are at:

Snowy Monaro Regional Council adopted the final version of the Michelago Master Plan at its ordinary meeting on Thursday 21 October 2021. Thank you to all who have had input into this process, a copy of the adopted plan can be viewed in the 'Documents' section of this page. Council staff are now working on the implementation of the plan.

Background:

In December 2020, Council asked for your input to create a shared vision for the future of Michelago, asking you what you wanted to see projected, improved or added in Michelago. As part of this consultation we:

• Held our ‘big ideas for Michelago workshop’
• Asked you to provide feedback via our online survey
• Developed an interactive exercise to map and highlight Michelago’s most loved places
• Created an online brainstorming tool to gather the community’s ideas about the future of Michelago

Following this four (4) development scenarios were developed for the communities’ consideration. These scenarios were publicly exhibited over April and May 2021. Council held two drop-in sessions in this period and over 130 surveys were completed and over 30 submissions were received in this period.

What we heard:

Thank you to everyone who took their time to provide ideas and suggestions to help inform the Masterplan vision. From the first round of consultation, we heard the following

• preference for 152 additional residents in 53 new buildings,
• preference for single detached dwellings,
• less support for reticulated water and sewer services in Michelago,
• objection to an increase in fees and charges to expand water services
• priority to upgrading local roads
• priority to improving walking and running trails.
• Residents strongly value the rural character, natural landscape and sense of community in Michelago
• Residents want to see the town centre developed and existing facilities upgraded while maintaining the rural village ambience of Michelago
• Vacant heritage buildings should be utilised for inclusive services such as hospitality, events, museums, galleries and small businesses
• Improvements need to be made to existing recreational facilities and new facilities established
• Economic growth, preservation of local character and protection of heritage features should be the top three priorities that underpin the Masterplan
• Above all else, any future development must be appropriate in both density and scale to avoid over development of the town.

Based on this feedback a draft Master Plan for Michelago has been developed.