Window of golf opportunity
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 | 12-Jan-2012
The tough times for Bendigo’s golf clubs could turn out to be a blessing in disguise.
If the clubs were all doing well, the idea of closing any of them down would be shocking.
Having so much space available for residents to enjoy a social hit, as well as for more serious golfers, has to be counted as a plus for a city this size. The abundance of courses is part of our green and gracious image.
Part of our image, too, is the community spirit that keeps the clubs going.
All of them, including Bendigo Golf Club, rely to varying degrees on the interest and commitment of their membership.
City of Greater Bendigo council has made it clear they are not in the business of running golf clubs.
What they are in the business of, however, is providing the environment and the support for activities that fit the lifestyle aspirations of the city’s residents.
When the grand plan for a resort-style competition-standard course at Big Hill fell over a few years back, that seemed to draw a line through any such scheme, for any time in the near to mid-future.
But now, with all clubs admitting they are concerned about the future of the sport across the region, the topic of whether Bendigo could be the home of such a course is back on the agenda.
The downside of that ambitious vision is that we would likely lose the cheap, easy accessibility to a range of courses, some with only scrape tees, that we have at present.
While membership across all clubs has dwindled to around 2200 people, there is still the opportunity for any Bendigo resident to have a go and that is a real asset.
The upside is that we would gain a potential tourist attraction, and an addition to the range of sporting and leisure facilities which would enhance the city’s image.
One proposal is to site such a course at Epsom, in the floodplain region that is unsuitable for housing or other development, and which would also have access to the treated water from the sewage plant.
It is a bold idea, and one which would probably require the merging of several of the bigger clubs and the closure of several of the struggling smaller clubs.
The strategy paper which council is planning to commission will consider that option, because some of the clubs have already indicated support for such a big change.
It is not the only option, of course, and many in the golfing community will no doubt argue strongly against it.
Whatever comes out of the council-organised discussions, right now, there is a window of opportunity opened up for the first and what may be the last time to think both strategically and optimistically about enhancing the city’s facilities.
Good luck to all those about to begin the difficult process of finding an equitable way forward for the golfing fraternity and the wider community.
They will need courage and goodwill, to find their way out of the rough, onto the green.
A hole in one? We’ll settle for par.
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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