Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2: REVIEW

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 | 05-Aug-2011

MY association with Harry Potter has been a long and entertaining journey that has finally concluded after the much-awaited release of The Deathly Hallow Part2.

After 14 years of reading seven books and watching eight movies, I am at peace with the knowledge that Harry, Ron and Hermione are happily married with the next generation of Potters and Weasleys beginning their journey at Hogwart’s School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

The Harry Potter phenomenon has been extraordinary. In my journey I have witnessed early 20 year-old multi-pierced and tattooed males trying to act cool and disinterested but inwardly excited while standing in line outside a bookstore waiting to buy the final installment of JK Rowling’s magical saga.

I have also seen movie-goers dress up as their favourite characters with broad smiles attending ordinary movie sessions of a Harry Potter movie.

The multi-generational attraction of this boy wizard and his friends is as enchanting as the magic these characters perform.

It has been fascinating to watch the franchise grow at the same age as some of its audience – a feat not achieved by a movie franchise before.

Very early in the process I moved on from any embarrassment I perceived from being interested in a supposed children’s literary series and became an avid Harry Potter fan.

I proudly have seven DVDs of the series with a space waiting for the release of the last disc which will be my final monetary contribution to the franchise, even though I have considered making the whole set a Blu-ray collection in the future.

While I may not be pouring any more money into the massive fortunes of JK Rowling and Warner Bros movie studios, my memory of Harry and his journey will remain for life.

Like a lot of people I have promised to watch all eight movies in one hit but I doubt my ability to make that endeavour a reality as I have had similar unsuccessful plans to watch all six Star Wars and the three Lord on The Rings movies in succession.

As the movie adaptations of the books have improved since The Philosopher’s Stone’s release in 2001, the last instalment is the franchise’s best.

David Yates has been a good choice to direct the last three Harry Potter movies. In the Deathly Hallows Part 2 he has produced a relatively short installment which has just as much punch as any of its predecessors.

Like James Cameron’s Avatar, Yates’ use of 3D is not intrusive and becomes a tool to give depth to the dark surrounds of Harry’s magical world.

Not many actors have had the chance to tackle a character with such longevity, let alone grow up with them through their teen years as Daniel Radcliffe as Harry, Emma Watson as Hermione Granger and Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley have.

Their work has been exceptional and set them up for life – at least financially.

All three already have a body of successful non-Potter film work behind them which may well future proof any type-casting.

It has taken 10 years but Ralph Fiennes finally gets a chance to sink his teeth into the role of Lord Voldemort which originally began as nothing more than a wisp of smoke.

Steve Kloves’ screenplay of the second half of Rowling’s last Potter work captures most of the emotion and energy of the book.

Fans will always debate what should have been included in the films, but Kloves has proved it was worth splitting the largest of the seven books into two parts.

Surprisingly Kloves injects a sizeable amount of humour into the screenplay – along the way giving Maggie Smith (as Professor Minerva McGonagall) a wonderful comic moment where she proudly exclaims: "I’ve always wanted to use that spell" as she brings to life Hogwarts’ gargoyles and decorative soldier statues to defend the school.

The film’s special effects are as good as the rest of the project’s components and are a credit to Eduardo Serra’s cinematography and Mark Day’s editing. Alexander Desplat and John’s William’s music is integral to the suspense build.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is a fitting finale to JK Rowling’s epic saga of magic and wizardry – congratulations to all involved and thanks for the ride.

9 ½ stars out of 10