Fire highlights reel concerns in Marong

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 | 13-Jan-2012 Neighbours at loggerheads over industrial site

DISPUTE: Val and Vaughan Murley, at the back of their Marong property in front of the cable reel company.

A FIRE at a Marong industrial site last week reignited a long-running dispute between landowners.
“Our biggest concern is that it’s a fire hazard,” resident Sue McKeown said.
“When it was only small it wasn’t an issue, but in the last few years it’s gone crazy, and expanded almost
beyond the capacity of the block.
“He does employ many people but we want to know why they are there.”
The Australian Cable Reel Company, owned by real estate agent Graeme Stanford, makes, stores and recycles large wooden industrial reels on the Forest Drive property on the edge of Marong.
Val and Vaughan Murley, whose property backs onto the industrial site, have waged a long-term campaign against the generator noise which, they say, can be heard kilometres away.
“There are three issues,” the Murleys said this week.
“There is the noise, the rubbish and all the traffic coming and going from the property,” they said.
“The noise goes on 10 hours a day, and it’s not just the noise, it’s a firetrap.
“We just don’t trust what they do down there.”
The City of Greater Bendigo council responded to a petition signed by 17 residents in 2010 by initiating an investigation which found “no noise issues emanating from the property”.
Council and Environmental Protection Agency staff met with Mr Stanford, who “gave an assurance he would change his work practices”.
“The owner has advised that the large cable reels would be disposed of, therefore improving the visual amenity of the property,” Council’s Planning and Development, director Prue Mansfield said in a letter to the Murleys in September, 2010.
The fire last week, which destroyed 2000 reels, is still under investigation, but Marong CFA captain Gary Parlby said the source has now been traced to a smouldering angle-grinder.
“We don’t see it as suspicious,” Mr Parlby said.
“This is the first time we have been called to a fire on the property.”
Mr Stanford said his business, which is only one of six in Australia which supply industrial cable reels, is “all legal and passed by the council.
“I am amazed people have no tolerance and understanding,” he said.
“I’ve been battling with council for a long time because of the complaints.
“We purchased a machine to turn the waste reels into garden mulch, but then they (neighbouring residents) complained about the noise of that.
“There isn’t much more we can do about it, but I am happy to meet with them and explain my long-term goals.
“I’m not someone to say ‘up your bum’ to people who have a problem – I am happy to work with the community if they want to sit down and talk about it.”