Coalition shuts down north-south pipeline

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 | 15-Nov-2011

Water Minister Peter Walsh

Water from the north-south pipeline will only be used to boost Melbourne’s
supply during times of critical human need, Water Minister Peter Walsh said
today.

Mr Walsh said the Victorian Coalition Government would only transfer water
down the pipeline if Melbourne’s water storage levels were below 30 per
cent on 30 November.

“Water from the north-south pipeline will only be considered as a last
resort for use during extremely dry conditions or for fire-fighting
purposes,” Mr Walsh said.

“Melbourne’s water will be stored in Eildon as Melbourne’s insurance policy
against Stage 4 water restrictions in the future.”

Mr Walsh said Labor broke a core promise and made a short-sighted and
ill-conceived decision to build the pipeline to Sugarloaf.

“Historical data shows in most years Sugarloaf Reservoir will not be able
to store the extra 75 gigalitres (Gl) of water from the north-south
pipeline,” Mr Walsh said.

“Between 1981 and 2009 inflows into Sugarloaf from the Yarra River and
Maroondah aqueduct averaged 86.9 Gl yet the dam has only been able to
supply an average of 83.3 Gl.

“At the moment Sugarloaf Reservoir is more than 99 per cent full, which
means the north-south pipeline cannot be used unless we allow water
spilling from storages upstream of Sugarloaf to go to waste.

“Sugarloaf is downstream of all other Yarra storages, which means water
cannot be transferred to other dams.

“Melbourne’s water storages are over 64 per cent, and total water
consumption in October was 20 megalitres a day less than the same time in
2010,” Mr Walsh said.

Mr Walsh said Melbourne’s water retailers would have a seasonal allocation
against high reliability water shares in the Goulburn system, the same as
other entitlement holders.

“Any water which is transferred down the pipeline must be part of
Melbourne’s share of water from Stage 1 of the Food Bowl Modernisation
Project,” Mr Walsh said.

“In return for their contribution towards the project, Melbourne’s retail
water businesses will continue to hold legal rights allowing them to trade
the water in years when it is not needed.

“The pipeline will also be maintained and charged with water so it can be
used for fire-fighting.”

Mr Walsh said the Victorian Coalition Government committed before last
year’s election to change the way we plan for Melbourne’s future water
needs.

“Our Living Victoria policy aims to overhaul the urban water system to
place a greater focus on localised water solutions, rather than relying on
transferring water from other catchments or costly infrastructure
projects,” Mr Walsh said.