Call for sauce boycott

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 | 16-Jan-2012

MEMBER for Bendigo East and Shadow Regional and Rural Development Minister Jacinta Allan has urged the State Government to take Heinz products off their menus.

More than 140 workers were made jobless when Heinz’s Gigarre factory, which makes tomato sauce, closed down earlier this month.

Ms Allan said the Baillieu-Ryan Government must remove Heinz tomato sauce from government catering contracts.

“As Heinz has left Victoria for New Zealand, Mr Baillieu should leave Heinz tomato sauce off the government table,” she said.

“The Baillieu-Ryan Government can move immediately to ensure it only uses Australian made and produced tomato sauce in all catering contracts.”

Ms Allan also said the government needed to outline how it would support the Goulburn Valley Food Action Committee to secure local jobs.

“The Goulburn Valley Food Action Committee is working hard to secure the future of the former Heinz site in Girgarre to ensure new jobs are created in the region,” she said.

“The Baillieu-Ryan Government should be actively assisting negotiations between the Goulburn Valley Food Action Committee and Heinz to secure the future of a food manufacturing and processing industry at Girgarre.

“The committee has been working hard to negotiate with Heinz to secure the plant and equipment, but needs to be actively backed by the Baillieu-Ryan Government to secure the local plant and create jobs.