Crime rise prompts police to take action
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 | 07-Sep-2012
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NIGHT ATTACK: Assaults are on the rise in Bendigo.
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POLICE will continue to focus on Bendigo’s late-night precinct after a dramatic increase in the number of crimes reported across the city.
The number of assaults across Bendigo last financial year rose by more than 36 per cent to 802 compared to the year before.
When family violence assaults are taken out, the figure was still almost a 30 per cent increase.
Total crime rose by 21.6 per cent, and car thefts rose by 26 per cent.
There was also a large spike in drug offences, up 18.8 per cent.
Bendigo Police Inspector Mark Edwards said the assaults were mostly happening at night.
“Commonly these assaults are occurring on the street between 8pm and 1am,” he said.
“This trend has been on the increase for some months now and we have been working hard to counteract this.
“The introduction of the Bendigo Tasking Unit has seen an increased police presence in and around the CBD during these hours.
“We have also been focusing on the Hargreaves Mall between 3pm and 5pm on weekdays to curb anti-social behaviour and assaults in this area between these times.
“We will continue to target crime hot spots identified from our intelligence along with recidivist offenders to actively target these people.”
Inspector Edwards said the higher level of drug offences was due to better enforcement.
“Drug offences are measured on how many people we arrest for drug related matters and this is an encouraging statistic and reflective of our work around these offences,” he said.
“The other areas of concern are our residential burglaries.
“We have a real dedicated team of detectives who have been working tirelessly on these burglaries.
“We have a very good clearance rate and most of our burglars are imprisoned.
“Our burglary statistics, although up, are still considerably below the state average.”
Inspector Edwards said half of the 645 thefts from a vehicle were committed on unlocked cars with valuables inside.
“This is frustrating for police and the community need to be more vigilant by taking proactive steps to deter such crime,” he said.
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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