Eye for a good book
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.”
Rosemary Sorensen | Bendigo Weekly | 09-Aug-2012
What’s the biggest topic of discussion at this year’s Bendigo Writers Festival?
Yes, it’s certainly what Ita Buttrose says about life at the top of publishing, and how many kids love Old Tom.
But it’s also what’s happening in publishing, how writers are coping with the impact of ebooks, and how do we make our way through all the books and writing to find that thing that changes our lives?
With the boom in online sites, chat rooms, blogs and interactive websites, reviewing has appeared to become less important.
Everyone can have a say now, right? So why do we need “experts” telling us if a book is any good?
That’s the topic on the agenda for the Lead Pencils, a group of book reviewers who are keen to make the case for their trade.
Di Dempsey, Kathy Hunt, Clare Kennedy and Judith Armstrong are all very experienced and talented book reviewers.
Collectively, they have thousands of books behind them, all of which they have read not just for pleasure but also to understand how the writing works, and if it does what it sets out to do.
They’ll talk at their session (Sunday, August 12, 2pm at the Visual Arts Centre in View Street) about why they think reviewing is important and what makes a good review.
An example that might set you thinking about all this: I remember being contacted by the editor of Magpies, a marvelous little magazine
devoted to Australian children’s books.
She had read and reviewed for the magazine a fantasy title that had been out for a few months, without much attention being paid to it, except in book circles, where reviewers were raving. She suggested I’d enjoy it, so I took her advice, and got hold of a copy.
It had a very dour-looking cover showing a steam train coming towards us, and an odd title. Have you guessed it?
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
This was before the huge popularity took Harry Potter into the marketing stratosphere, with huge campaigns world-wide synchronising the release of each new book in the series.
I opened it, started reading, and thought, yep, this is good, the reviewers are right.
If you are interested in book reviewing, don’t miss out on the Lead Pencils in Bendigo this weekend. They just may put you on the track of the next big thing.
- Rosemary Sorensen
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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