Call to save railway history
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.”
Rosemary Sorensen | Bendigo Weekly | 14-Sep-2012
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ALL CHANGE: Peter McDonnell is a former station master.
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THE historic signal box that greets passengers turning up in Bendigo by rail from Melbourne is deteriorating through neglect.
“It’s an eyesore,” former station master Peter McDonnell said this week.
“When you come in to Bendigo on the train, it’s the first thing you see and it needs to be restored.”
Mr McDonnell said many staff and former staff are concerned about the small building which they believe is the largest intact signal box on the line.
While Kyneton has a restored signal box, and last month VicTrack announced a budget of $100,000 to restore a signal box in Ballarat “to its former glory”, Mr McDonnell said they have been told repair works in Bendigo are too expensive.
“We do know that some of the instruments were stolen some time ago, and now it needs new roofwork and painting.
“The problem is that it sits in the middle of nowhere, in terms of VicTrack, with V/Line all round it.
“VicTrack has a massive restoration fund, that’s what they do, but they’ve just ignored this one.
“It’s the most important signal box on this line.”
VicTrack said the signal box is the responsibility of V/Line which, as regional rail operator, has the lease.
V/Line is therefore “responsible for managing the assets and delivering services”.
A V/Line spokesman said they are discussing the future of the signal box with VicTrack and Public Transport Victoria.
“At the moment as the box is not part of operational infrastructure any funding to restore it falls outside the current budget allocation,” he said.
“There are many historic pieces of infrastructure across Victoria. While it would be great to be able to upgrade them all, budgetary limitations mean this is not always possible.”
Mr McDonnell said V/Line could manage the historic building as a public asset.
“It’s only a matter of someone putting on a vest and letting people through it,” he said.
“All the staff are enthusiasts and they want someone to do something about it.”
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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