Planning approval secured for Baroona Healing Centre, Echuca —

The Baroona Healing Centre is a particularly special project, and we’re pleased to have been able to support our client in securing planning approval for this thoughtfully designed facility that will provide a safe, supportive environment for young people.

Delivered on behalf of Njernda Aboriginal Corporation, the approved development at 782 Murray Valley Highway will offer a small, home-like residential setting supported by dedicated on-site staff, shared communal spaces, and essential services, that is carefully integrated within a working rural property on the outskirts of Echuca, Victoria.

A collaborative planning process —

Habitat Planning guided the application from early discussions through to approval, working closely with Council and the broader project team to determine a clear planning pathway. This early collaboration helped identify and respond to key considerations that included zoning, environmental factors and the operational needs of the facility in a responsible and measured way.

Throughout the process, we provided ongoing strategic advice and prepared a comprehensive planning submission that articulated the intent and value of the proposal, helping to support a positive outcome.

Designed with rural context in mind —

Situated within a 127-hectare rural property, the development is designed to comfortably sit within its rural context and occupies a modest, centralised portion of the site, allowing the remainder of the land to continue as a working farm.

The facility includes a central communal and administration building alongside a cluster of single-storey accommodation units arranged around landscaped courtyards. From a sustainable perspective, the units have been sourced from Emergency Recovery Victoria and will be repurposed to have residential and familiar character, that icludes pitched roofs, verandahs, and generous windows to encourage floods of natural light; creating a setting that feels calm, welcoming, and connected to the landscape.

Supporting wellbeing through thoughtful design —

The Baroona Healing Centre has been designed around the wellbeing of the young people it will serve, accommodating up to six residents aged 12 to 17, supported by dedicated staff on site.

The layout is a mix of shared living with space for privacy and quiet reflection. Communal areas support connection and everyday life, while quieter indoor and outdoor spaces offer room to step away as needed. Native planting, open lawns, and sheltered outdoor areas contribute to a calm, restorative setting closely connected to the natural environment.

A meaningful planning outcome —

The Baroona Healing Centre is a considered community project that is demonstrative of meaningful planning outcomes within an agricultural setting.

Habitat Planning is proud to have supported Njernda Aboriginal Corporation in securing this approval and congratulates the wider project team for their equally valuable inputs. We look forward to seeing the project come to life and learning of its impact for young people.

Client: Njernda Aboriginal Corporation
Collaborators: Public Realm Lab, TerraMatrix, Aitken Rowe, One Mile Grid, DJC Consulting, Maker Engineering
Disciplines: Town Planning
Location: Echuca, Victoria | Yorta Yorta Country
Date: 2025
Render: Public Realm Lab