Allan quizzes DHS
BENDIGO’S residential Strategy will be reviewed because of greater than expected growth.
The State Government has announced a grant of $50,000 to carry out the review.
The review is needed because, according to the State Government, 40 per cent of the forecast growth between 2006 and 2031 had already been realised.
Regional Development Parliamentary Secretary Damian Drum made the announcement this morning.
Mr Drum said the Bendigo Residential Strategy Review would deliver greater community and investor certainty, helping the region grow.
“The Bendigo Residential Development Strategy was adopted in 2004 and is currently being audited because of the faster than anticipated growth that has occurred in Bendigo in recent years,” he said.
“Strong residential growth has many flow-on economic benefits and having a clear framework for future development will position Greater Bendigo City Council to undertake more detailed, place-based planning in the future.”
Deputy Premier Peter Ryan said about 40 per cent of the forecast growth between 2006 and 2031 had already been realised.
The Residential Strategy impacts directly on where and how property developments use “infill” parcels of land, range of housing styles and also on housing affordability.
“This project will review the strategy, assess current and estimated land supply and demand and consider various legislative and policy changes,” Mr Ryan said,
“It will also consider the latest demographic data and establish a new strategic framework to guide the long-term residential growth of Greater Bendigo.
“The project will result in a revised residential strategy that will give developers, the community and service providers greater surety and confidence about where land can be developed for residential purposes, and that sufficient land is available to accommodate the City of Greater Bendigo’s future growth.”
Mr Ryan said a contemporary strategic planning framework was essential to the economic development of a large regional centre like Bendigo.
“Clearly identifying future growth options and supporting infrastructure needs will enable the Greater Bendigo City Council and other infrastructure providers to plan their capital works programs well in advance,” he said.
“Identifying long-term growth areas will enable the council and other service authorities to start planning for the delivery of services, thereby minimising the lag time between when residential development occurs and when the services need to be in place.”
Anthony Radford | Bendigo Weekly | 02-Nov-2011
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QUESTIONS: Jacinta Allan. Photo: ANDREW PERRYMAN
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MEMBER for Bendigo East Jacinta Allan has tackled Community Services Minister Mary Wooldridge in parliament over last week’s release of a scathing Ombudsman’s report into the Bendigo DHS office.
Acting Ombudsman John Taylor’s report found Bendigo Department of Human Services staff failed to investigate reports of children at risk to make their completion figures look good.
The claims were part of a scathing report on the Bendigo office and the Loddon Mallee region.
Responding to a whistle blower, Mr Taylor said there was an intentional policy decision by the Bendigo office to reduce the amount of child protection reports it investigated.
Ms Allan said the report left a lot of questions unanswered.
“While the Minister and the Liberal National Government have said that they accept the six recommendations made by the Ombudsman, there are serious questions that the Minister needs to answer regarding the safety of the children identified in the report,” she said.
“I am particularly concerned that children may have been left at risk. The Minister needs to answer these questions.
“To date she and her Liberal National Government have not addressed issues about the welfare of these children under her watch.”
Ms Allan asked:
• How many of the 59 children whose cases were reopened as a result of the investigation were placed in at-risk situations as a result of their case being closed.
• How many of the 90 cases closed on June 28, 2011 have been reviewed and as a result reopened.
• How many of the child protection cases closed during May and June 2011 have been reviewed and as a result reopened.
• How many children, of the 90 child protection cases closed on June 28, 2011 have been left at risk because their cases were closed.
A spokesman for Ms Wooldridge said the government was acting on the report.
“The department is doing what the Ombudsman has recommended in regard to protecting vulnerable children in the Loddon Mallee region and Victoria generally,” he said.
“The safety and wellbeing of these children is the driving factor behind the reforms of the child protection system, which was left in crisis by the former Labor Government.
“As well as accepting the Ombudsman’s six recommendations, his report will be forwarded to the Protecting Victoria’s Vulnerable Children Inquiry, which is comprehensively investigating the child protection system and will report to government in January 2012.”
Meanwhile, Domestic Violence Victoria has called for more funding to better co-ordinate responses to children who have experienced family violence.
“Vulnerable children deserve better, and the fact that over 50 per cent of the child protection notifications are a result of or involve family violence is a disgrace and something the Victorian Government must tackle head-on,” DVV chief executive officer Fiona McCormack said.
“Bendigo Family Violence services said that there was a significant need for more integration between the services that encounter vulnerable children, in order to ensure that no child is left without support.”
BENDIGO’S residential Strategy will be reviewed because of greater than expected growth.
The State Government has announced a grant of $50,000 to carry out the review.
The review is needed because, according to the State Government, 40 per cent of the forecast growth between 2006 and 2031 had already been realised.
Regional Development Parliamentary Secretary Damian Drum made the announcement this morning.
Mr Drum said the Bendigo Residential Strategy Review would deliver greater community and investor certainty, helping the region grow.
“The Bendigo Residential Development Strategy was adopted in 2004 and is currently being audited because of the faster than anticipated growth that has occurred in Bendigo in recent years,” he said.
“Strong residential growth has many flow-on economic benefits and having a clear framework for future development will position Greater Bendigo City Council to undertake more detailed, place-based planning in the future.”
Deputy Premier Peter Ryan said about 40 per cent of the forecast growth between 2006 and 2031 had already been realised.
The Residential Strategy impacts directly on where and how property developments use “infill” parcels of land, range of housing styles and also on housing affordability.
“This project will review the strategy, assess current and estimated land supply and demand and consider various legislative and policy changes,” Mr Ryan said,
“It will also consider the latest demographic data and establish a new strategic framework to guide the long-term residential growth of Greater Bendigo.
“The project will result in a revised residential strategy that will give developers, the community and service providers greater surety and confidence about where land can be developed for residential purposes, and that sufficient land is available to accommodate the City of Greater Bendigo’s future growth.”
Mr Ryan said a contemporary strategic planning framework was essential to the economic development of a large regional centre like Bendigo.
“Clearly identifying future growth options and supporting infrastructure needs will enable the Greater Bendigo City Council and other infrastructure providers to plan their capital works programs well in advance,” he said.
“Identifying long-term growth areas will enable the council and other service authorities to start planning for the delivery of services, thereby minimising the lag time between when residential development occurs and when the services need to be in place.”
