Pick of the Week May 27: Star Jumps

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 | 27-May-2011 10.28

Star Jumps
Lorraine Marwood
Walker Books, $15.95

Lorraine Marwood’s award-winning narrative poem, Star Jumps, was born out of her own experience on a dairy farm north of Bendigo; a family’s response to debilitating drought.
The story starts with Keely, Ruby (the narrator) and little Connor playing one of their farm-games, the piling up of marshmallow weed to make secret places, and the exuberant, cow-scaring leap into the sky to signal not much more than the joy of living.
Marwood’s language is spare (she says economy is one of her primary goals). As the story progresses, you become accustomed to this wise child’s thoughts, and way of speaking, her sadnesses pushed away time and time again.
When she finally plots revenge against the drought she has come to think of as an ugly enemy, the lines lift with her hope, gaining speed as we race with her towards a small victory.
The happy balance Marwood achieves is to stretch just slightly what you might expect a sentence to do (like, for example, when she calls cows “lumbering moos”), but doesn’t break the contract with the reader to keep the story on track.
We emerge from the time on Ruby’s farm feeling the sun on our backs, hearing those lumbering moos, perhaps understanding a little better the rhythm of days so ruled by these animals and the tasks they demand. - Rosemary Sorensen
Lorraine Marwood will be at the Bendigo Library, from 5 to 8.30pm on Monday May 30, to talk about winning the Prime Minister’s children’s book award. Bookings ($30/$20) 0415 848515.
For this week’s Top Ten, go to www.bendigoweekly.com.au/book-club. Join up, and send comments to bookclub@bendigoweekly.com.au.