Books in favour

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 | 23-Aug-2012

BOOKISH: Sandra Lowenthal, Susan Groom, Maggie Whittaker, Sharon Marchingo and Michelle Lucas.

The Global Learning Centre, otherwise known as the library, at Crusoe College in Kangaroo Flat is living up to its name of being globally inclusive by creating the first ever Parent Community Book Club.
The club is believed to be the first of its kind in any public secondary school in Victoria and one of a few in the world.
The aim of the innovative and ground-breaking program is to encourage reading across the entire school community and to use the spaces of the college beyond the school day to add value to the wider community.
Members of the club include parents of the college and some staff.
Each parent member takes it in turn to select a novel that will be read and discussed the following month.
Parents are encouraged to take advantage of borrowing from the library’s collection.
Global Learning Centre leader and 30 year veteran of education in public schools, Sharon Marchingo, said it had been a long-held dream to establish such a book club for parents.
“This program reaches out to people who might not otherwise be as engaged with the school community and generates interest and support from the college community,” she said.
Parent Michelle Lucas said the club offers a relaxing and inviting place where she can slow down the frenetic pace of her usual life.
She said it enables her to not only discuss the book in review but a wide range of literature as well.
“It has reignited my love of reading,” she said.
“My enthusiasm and discussions at home about book club has sparked an interest in my 11-year-old son.“
Maggie Whitaker, also a parent member, said now her children are a little older she actually has time to read again.
“By being in the Crusoe Book Club it shows my children that reading is not only something you are made to do for your schooling but it can be relevant to your interests, enjoyable and sociable,” she said.
Such is the popularity of the program that it is thought that a second group will be set up next year.
The club operates on the third Thursday of the month at the college and has been set up with the support of the Community Foundation of Bendigo and Central Victoria, which was sponsored by Adroit Insurance.