Hospital will be the main event
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 | Bendigo Weekly | 30-Dec-2011 2.05pm
2011 was a big year for Bendigo.
It started off with the easing of water restrictions, and will end with hundreds of people swimming, fishing and boating in a very full Lake Eppalock.
The region’s secure water situation was just one of the many highlights of the year, even though the rain that brought it here was one of the lowlights.
The state budget delivered the promised funds for the Bendigo hospital redevelopment, shoring up the plan to start in 2012.
The Federal Government funding for the new theatre at the old jail was also good news, as was the success of the White Wedding Dress exhibition at the art gallery.
There were also some sporting highlights, perhaps the best being the success of Bendigo’s first senior women’s football team.
The Bendigo Thunder lost in the Preliminary Final to the eventual premiers, not bad for their first year.
The Bendigo Spirit making the WNBL finals for another year was another sporting highlight, but the future of the club sits easily in the lowlights category.
Perhaps the biggest lowlight was the two murders in the city in 2011.
Murders are rare in Bendigo, so to have the horrific death of newsagent Garry Angus, and the alleged murder of another man last week were shocking.
The Garry Angus death in particular could see national headlines about Bendigo created for the wrong reasons as the court case continues next year.
Issues such as the safety concerns at the Bendigo Law Courts and the future of Fortuna continue to plague the city, with no end in sight for either problem.
Anti-social behaviour in the Hargreaves Mall flared up again for a short time, with police acting swiftly to calm the situation however, the problems simply moved further down Hargreaves Street to the Library Gardens.
News wise, things were pretty quiet at the City of Greater Bendigo council, however one event sticks out.
Eaglehawk Ward councillor Peter Cox walked out of a vote on the new multi-storey car park, causing a lack of quorum and anger from other councillors and senior council staff.
The matter resolved itself a week later, and construction began. It should be completed in 2012.
In 2012, the big story will be the hospital. Both political parties should be congratulated for expediting the project.
The Bendigo Weekly believes the current single-site plan the Liberal Party created is the best option for the city, better than the former State Government’s project.
However, the Labor Party, and particularly Member for Bendigo East Jacinta Allan and former Member for Bendigo West Bob Cameron, as well as former Premier John Brumby, should be congratulated for making the big decision to build it.
It would be good that when the first sod is turned later this year Ms Allan is invited to the ceremony and to say a few words.
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.”
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