Private pool a pipe dream

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 | 10-Jun-2011 3.39

Towels were draped over loungers in a cotton claim of ownership

It seems my wish for peace and quiet was too much to hope for in a tropical resort

AFTER being blown around a bit by cyclone Yasi earlier this year, I thought I’d return to Cairns to finish my holiday.
There were a few things I wanted to do that high winds and heavy rain had precluded.
So there I was last week by the pool enjoying the peace and quiet.
The long-suffering Mrs Kendall was up to her usual self, so there was a bit of chatter (Mrs K FM), but nothing a glass of chardonnay couldn’t cope with.
The resort we stayed at had four pools, so plenty of room to splash around.
We had one right outside our unit and from day one the games began.
It had the look of being our private pool and in the style of German tourists everywhere we set out to hog it for privacy.
The first sign of intrusion and there would be scowls.
Towels were draped over loungers in a cotton claim of ownership.
To be honest, it was rather fun... and there were plenty of pools for all.
A lot of our ideas stemmed from the large resorts of Europe where German tourists were famous for laying claim to the best poolside loungers by going out before breakfast and putting their towel and book on a chosen spot.
Now the Kendalls were having their own takeover plan.
Most of it was for the want of silence and peace. The holiday was supposed to provide a break from the excitement of the high paced world of newspaper publishing (No boss, I am talking about me).
Me in my bathers should have been enough of a deterrent, but there were some hardy souls in Cairns last week.
Because of the wonders of child gates, many youngsters glanced through the fence only to be scared away by the miserable scowling couple at the pool.
The plan was working.
By mid week we didn’t even have to be at the pool, all seemed scared to enter the area.
Off we would go for our day out. On our return all was quiet and we could take our rightful place.
Then came the weekend.
A new influx arrived, and a large family was part of the draft.
We were horribly outnumbered, and they had designs on OUR pool.
They had the man and woman power to cover all hours of daylight.
What started as a gentle incursion became a full-scale invasion.
Dad and youngest son were on the 8.30am shift, elder son covered lunch with mum, and the afternoon and early evening was in the hands of the whole family.
Their confidence grew, they had a whole flotilla of pool toys and an amazing collection of towels to hold the loungers in their possession.
The game was lost.
The Kendalls withdrew to the beach, battered and bruised by the defeat.
I made a tactical retreat to a beach-side bar.
All day breakfasts and a happy hour that spanned 3pm to 6pm.
That certainly made me happy by 6pm.
I went back to the unit in darkness and the pool takeover family had retired for the night.
Time to think up a cunning plan...