A real growing concern

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.”

Vicki Harrington | Bendigo Weekly | 14-Dec-2011 4.08pm

RAW TALENT: James Sofo with his winning Go and Grow poster and Bendigo Wholefoods’ Rob Ball and Darren Murphy. Photo: Vicki Harrington

One Bendigo business is doing something about getting the healthy living, healthy eating message out to our younger citizens.
Bendigo Wholefoods organised a Go and Grow poster competition among local primary schools to coincide with the onset of spring.
Eight schools took part creating a mammoth task for the judges with about 2000 entries to pore over.
The child producing the best poster from each of the eight schools was awarded a $50 voucher with Big Hill Primary School student and budding artist, James Sofo the overall winner with his colourful entry.
Finely detailed in coloured pencil, it was a perfect fit for the brief depicting trees, flowers, fruit and vegetables against a backdrop of sunshine and blue sky.
Ten-year-old James didn’t really plan his design.
“It just grew as I went along,” he said.
James received a Bendigo Wholefoods $50 voucher which he exchanged for seedlings and gardening bits and pieces and now has his own vegie plot at home.
His school, Big Hill primary, received a $500 voucher from Bendigo Wholefoods and Purtill’s Nursery for the purchase of seedlings for the school’s garden.
– Vicki Harrington