Catfish 'not a ringing endorsement of Facebook'

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.”

| Bendigo Weekly | 09-Jun-2011 4:00pm

CATFISH is an extraordinary movie in the documentary genre that will capture your interest from beginning to end.

It was released in Australia in August 2010 as part of the Melbourne International Film Festival and then on limited release in art house cinemas last January.

If you blinked and missed it, then it is released on DVD on June 16.

Like last year’s blockbuster The Social Network, Catfish is not a ringing endorsement of Facebook.

It is imperative that no-one tells you too much about this cinematic find as it is easy to act as a spoiler. With its limited release here, it is unlikely that you will come across many who have seen it.

However, it will be a rewarding experience and change your view on Facebook forever. In the simplest terms it is a real life documentary about a young photographer Nev Schulman who is filmed by his brother Ariel and friend Henry Joost who all live together in New York.

Likeable Nev builds a romantic relationship with a girl on Facebook and the documentary follows his exploits.

Without giving anything away, the audience is taken an amazing journey that is one minute a suspenseful roller coaster and the next, a heart-warming tear-jerker.

Since its release there has been speculation as to the film’s authenticity, but detractors and doubters should not ruin this remarkable piece of film making by injecting their cynicism.

After seeing the movie, visit the film maker’s project specific website (www.iamrogue.com/catfish) which is an amazing exercise in itself. Watch as your PC is magically transformed into a Mac with all the desk top bells and whistles a real one boasts.

For the doubters, the Schulman brothers and Henry Joost have produced a 100 per cent authentic insight into Social Networking that turns into an incredible and clever piece of entertainment.

Nev’s bravery of exposing his emotions will be rewarded by an army of admirers that this project will bring.

I hope word of mouth gives new life to this project in its DVD release so others, like me, will be inspired and entertained similarly as, so sadly, the few who have seen Catfish have been enlightened.

9 stars out of 10