Bidding to make a change

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.”

Steve Kendall | Bendigo Weekly | 02-Dec-2011 4.22PM

Last Friday was big. The Biggest Ever Blokes Lunch and White Ribbon Day were both spreading the word.

IT happens in films and comedy skits, and it’s finally happened to me.
I was at the Biggest Ever Blokes Lunch last Friday and was taken up in the excitement of it all.
A few drinks, a burger or two and a chunk of chicken caveman style and I was having a whale of a time.
The speeches and games had happened, Nick from work had woken up after his afternoon nap, and all was set for the auction.
It was a fundraiser for prostate cancer research after all.
The bidding was frantic and generous, and all items went beyond the suggested value.
One was hovering around the $1000 mark and I was distracted by an empty beer bottle. Mine.
Luckily I saw Ashleigh weaving through the tables clutching a few bottles of joy.
I waved to gain her attention.
“Thanks Steve, the bid is now at $1200,” said auctioneer Keith Sutherland.
Ouch, thankfully my negative response showed I had bid in error and I managed to extricate myself from a costly mistake.
But how silly to fall for that one, after all of the movies it happens in.
I was too shocked to have a beer for a while, and laughed it off as if I had done it for a joke. Bloody idiot.
I have no idea what I nearly bought, could have been a set of golf clubs for all I know.
That would have been a real waste, as I can’t play, and have no desire to.
May have had to take it up for a good cause.
Talking of good causes, along with the prostate cancer awareness fundraiser, Friday was big for another reason.
It was White Ribbon Day.
It is a valid project to highlight domestic violence and reduce, if not stop, violence against women.
It aims to bring out in the open the horrors and incidence of unacceptable violence, and to encourage respect for women.
They are on to a winner, because who could disagree with the cause?
Certainly not me.
I do disagree with the tactic of asking men to sign a pledge not to hit women.
I actually find it offensive for someone to consider I am capable of the act and want to bind me to a promise.
Anyone who bashes their wife would sign and break the pledge, and the majority, myself included, wouldn’t dream of it anyway.
I find the whole pledge idea pointless and mere tokenism.
Except of course to raise awareness of the cause, which it has done. Congratulations.
I think the white ribbon focus needs to shift a bit.
Alongside the current message, parents need to be telling their children violence is not an option in life.
It’s too late to tell an adult not to harm his wife. By then it’s a deep-rooted problem that may have been there since youth.
Parents must tell their children it’s not OK to hit someone, to harm an animal, or call someone a name just because they are from another country.
Teach them to respect everyone equally.
Make bigotry and misogyny taboo subjects and respect of others as a matter of course.
To force innocent people to sign a pledge against something so outlandish would not be needed, if the situation was not allowed to rise in the first place.
It needs to be on the school agenda, and on the agenda of every parent, grandparent, carer, teacher and anyone who has an input into the social education of our young.