Councillors show colours
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.”
Anthony Radford | Bendigo Weekly | 25-May-2012
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LEANINGS: Councillors Lisa Ruffell, Barry Lyons and Alec Sandner.
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ONLY three City of Greater Bendigo councillors are members of political parties.
In the run up to October’s council election, the spotlight has fallen on candidates and their political affiliations.
As part of the Bendigo Weekly’s War on Dummies campaign, the focus is also on candidates running tickets at the upcoming election, which will see three councillors from three wards for the first time.
Epsom Ward councillor Lisa Ruffell recently revealed she had re-joined the Liberal Party, after quitting after the 2008 election.
Mayor Alec Sandner is also a member of the Liberal Party, as is Kangaroo Flat Ward councillor Barry Lyons.
No other councillor is a member of a political party.
Cr Sandner said despite their membership, party politics played no part in the current council.
“The council we have at the moment is apolitical,” he said.
At least three councillors who are not members of political parties came out strongly against the idea of party politics in council.
“Don’t see room for party politics in local government. I never have and never will,” Sandhurst Ward councillor James Reade said.
Strathfieldsaye Ward councillor Keith Reynard has a Greens streak about him, but was strongly against becoming a member.
“I have never been a member of a political party and I never will be,” he said.
North West Plains Ward councillor Bruce Phillips spent a large amount of his working life in the public service.
“I have never been a member of a political party and I am completely against the idea,” he said.
Eaglehawk Ward councillor Peter Cox said next week should herald the start of the unofficial council election campaign.
Cr Cox said with a candidate’s information session on Tuesday, and the draft budget handed down on Wednesday, candidates should start getting their ideas out.
“There is a month to comment on the budget before it is approved,” he said.
“Any potential candidate should be able to read the budget and comment about what changes they would make.
“That will be a great debate over the next month.
Fears the City of Greater Bendigo council could again be made up purely of Bendigonians has seen the first non-councillor candidate come forward.
Heathcote newsagent Wayne McKay is to run in October’s elections.
Mr McKay said he fears the redistribution of wards (which resulted in more Bendigo voters on the Heathcote-based Eppalock Ward) would result in all councillors from Bendigo for the second year in a row. He said that was part of his reason for running.
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.”
seem to realise that by have 3 of the 9 councillors fully paid up LIberal Party member that Of Course its a political Council,. Rather then running this silly apolitical line,. just embrace the fact that October will hopefully see voters being informed and
allowed to make up their own minds,. Or does Cr Sandner mean that any other party member would make it political but that the Libs are above that stuff. Farce,. and whilst on it,. are the Weekly now the official web site for the councillors reelection campaign,.
your story on the rates increase would have to be the wettest nonsense I have ever read,.5.5% is a thumping great increase