Five things you need to know about: Bendigo Writers Festival
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 | 29-Jun-2012
It’s out at last. You will find the full program for the inaugural Bendigo Writers Festival in your Bendigo Weekly today, and it’s online at the festival website too.
If you have never been to a writers festival, and wonder just what to expect when you rock up to View Street in August, here’s a beginner’s guide.
1. Writers festivals are as much about readers and writers – that’s why you won’t see an apostrophe in the title. And when we say readers, that means everyone, from those who avidly borrow a stack of library books every month, to those whose reading consists of skimming Twitter. Seriously! We are all part of a community and reading is one of the glues that bind us. A writers festival is a chance to keep that glue strong and fresh.
2. Our writers festival is, as they say in the glossy brochures, very affordable.
You’ll figure this out for yourself, but what you’ll find is that a festival pass, bought online or at the Capital’s box office, will make it very easy to pick and choose what sessions you want to attend, and, if you are really keen, you could do 15 sessions for your $40/$35 pass. But if you only want to go to one session, you can do that too.
There are a few keynote sessions in the Capital main theatre only available as single tickets, at $12/$10 which can be booked also via the Capital or the festival website, and a couple of others that are outside the main program and booked at the venues. We’ve tried to make it very simple, so we hope you find it so.
3. Writers are about as different as children and cats. And, like children and cats, they are wonderful. What this festival is about is providing a relaxed gathering space, where writers can come together to talk about their own writing, meet readers, swap ideas and have a good time. The writers heading to Bendigo, and our own locals who are part of this first festival, are being generous with their time and their expertise, so we’re hoping to make their visit to Bendigo very enjoyable.
4. Yes, you will be able to buy books at the festival. Dymocks Bendigo will be setting up a bookshop for the weekend. Stay tuned for more information on that one.
5. On Friday August 10, the schools day and the first day of the festival, there will be volunteers on hand in the Capital foyer to answer any of your questions and provide information about the sessions coming up across the weekend.
You can also email us here, at bookclub@bendigoweekly.com.au anytime between now and the festival or via the festival website: www.bendigowritersfestival.com.au.
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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