Council rates well
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 | 02-Aug-2012
THE latest Community Satisfaction Survey has given the City of Greater Bendigo an impressive report card.
The survey, which involved interviews with 400 locals from May to June, found council was performing at or better than its peers in most areas.
The survey gives the City an Overall Performance Index Score of 63 out of 100 which is, according to the researchers, “significantly higher” than the average of 60 recorded state-wide and in the Rural Cities and Regional Centres group.
The overall result was significantly higher than last year's 59, but a change in methodology this year has made direct comparisons unreliable.
Customer Service is scored at 74, which is above the state-wide average of 71 and the regional centres average of 72.
Other key findings were:
• A score of 55 for Council Direction, which is “significantly higher” than the state-wide and Regional Centres averages of 52. Seventy four per cent of residents said council is heading in the right direction with 21 per cent saying it is definitely heading in the right direction.
• When asked about the direction of Greater Bendigo council over the past 12 months, 64 per cent of residents say it has stayed the same, 21 per cent say things have changed and 11 per cent say things have deteriorated.
• A score of 55 for Advocacy which is equal to both the state-wide and Regional Centres average.
• A score of 55 for Consultation which is “slightly lower” than the state-wide average of 57 and the Regional Centres average of 56.
• A score of 59 for Informing the Community which is higher than the Regional Centres average of 58 but slightly lower than the state-wide average of 60.
• A score of 77 for arts centres and libraries making them the highest rated services provided by the council. Recreational facilities and cultural activities also scored highly with 73.
• Looking ahead, 52 per cent of residents say there is room for improvement and 41 per cent says there is a little room for improvement.
• Key areas for improvement are more community consultation (mentioned by 15 per cent of participants), sealed road maintenance (12 per cent) and better financial management 11 per cent.
Council chief executive officer Craig Niemann welcomed the findings but acknowledged there was always room for improvement.
“These survey results are very pleasing and show that our community believe we are heading in the right direction and I’m a great believer that we can do even better,” he said.
“I’m particularly happy with the customer service score of 74. It’s great that our residents feel that their issues are being taken seriously and that our staff are responsive to their requests.”
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.”
horrible. If our council wants to make comparisons make them with the best rather than the average councils. Your headline is far too generous to a very slack council.