Easter festival format to stay
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 | 09-Aug-2012
Good Friday, Saturday and Sunday will continue to be the three main days of next year’s 2013 Bendigo Easter Festival.
However, next year Monday will be included within the entertainment program as local groups and organisations continue to host their community activities and entertainment as part of the festival’s long weekend of celebrations.
BEF Advisory Board chairman and City of Greater Bendigo councillor Rod Fyffe said following a comprehensive review of this year’s festival the board unanimously voted to once again retain the same official three day format in 2013. \
The decision will result in the Torchlight Parade taking place on Saturday evening and the Gala Parade beginning at 1pm on Easter Sunday.
Cr Fyffe said the three-day format allows the BEF to concentrate available funding on producing a high quality, family friendly festival rather than spread it thinly over four days.
“This has worked really well over the last two Easters and has resulted in a better, more action packed festival," he said.
"The changes over the past two years centralised Easter activities and have allowed people to move easily on foot between the key entertainment zones.
“The board also believes that the new parade routes worked well with excellent crowd numbers turning out to watch both events and that the fireworks display off the Rosalind Park tower was one of the best in years.
“This year’s festival was simply an outstanding success with attendance numbers remaining the same, if not more than previous years.".
Cr Fyffe said the advisory board, which consists of four community representatives, four Bendigo Easter Fair Society representatives, one representative from both the Bendigo Chinese Association and the City of Greater Bendigo, is a good mix of community and stakeholder representatives.
“The board is very happy to continue with the three day, Good Friday, Saturday and Sunday format leaving Easter Monday available to local groups and organisations to hold their community activities and entertainment," he said.
“We have not taken this decision lightly. We have consulted with festival volunteers, we undertook surveys of festival patrons and we consulted with festival sponsors before making the decision to continue with the format."
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.”
brass bands since last November. Quilters find their biggest day for showcasing their goods to be Easter Monday - but not so successful with no Gala Parade on Easter Monday 2012. The right 3 days for our Easter Festival is Sat/Sun/Mon - it's what the ratepayers
and the public want - why not listen to these people for a change. I will stand on that and other principles I hold and let the ratepayers of Eppalock Ward vote for me to change such a backward move at the next Council elections.