Full of Grace
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 | 18-Jun-2012 UPDATE
WHEN Bendigo Art Gallery’s Grace Kelly: Style Icon closed on Sunday night, the total number of visitors who saw the exhibition reached over 152,500 – doubling the previous record set by the Gallery.
Gallery director Karen Quinlan said the figure is outstanding when compared with the Victoria & Albert Museum, London’s attendances of 210,000 for the same exhibition.
"The exhibition has been an unprecedented success and we have been very heartened by the interest and strong word-of-mouth that has generated these outstanding attendances," she said.
"This has certainly provided extra fuel to our plans and aspirations for the future."
The exhibition also set a new record for the number of people who travelled with V/Line to see a major exhibition.
It resulted in up to 22,500 people travelling to see the exhibition, a 48 per cent increase on the number who travelled to see the 2011 White Wedding Dress.
Up to the end of May 18,839 people had travelled with V/Line see the exhibition.
V/Line Marketing and Stakeholder Relations general manager Paul Matthews said it was expected the final figure would be up to 22,500 after patronage figures are collated for the final few weeks of the exhibition.
“We are rapt with the result and it demonstrates the strong partnership we have in place with the Bendigo Art Gallery and Bendigo Tourism to bring people to the city,” he said.
“Our trains were so busy we had three daily peaks – the morning, afternoon and Grace Kelly peak. Weekend travellers to Bendigo were mostly visitors from Melbourne visiting to see the exhibition.
“A lot of people complimented not only the exhibition, but also the tourism volunteers who greeted travellers and tourists at Bendigo Station when our trains arrived.
“We know a lot of those visitors were from Melbourne and have attended previous exhibitions the gallery has hosted including the White Wedding Dress and The Golden Age of Couture.
“Having a warm and welcoming presence not only at the station, but at the gallery, cafés, restaurants and accommodation helps ensure visitors will return in the future.”
Bendigo Art Gallery offered a 20% discount on adult entry to the exhibition for travellers who presented their V/Line ticket at the box office.
The exhibition had already visited Monaco, Rome, New York and London before its exclusive visit to Bendigo.
City of Greater Bendigo Tourism executive manager Kathryn Mackenzie said the success of the exhibition had cemented the region as the Victorian regional capital for arts and culture.
“The exhibition has demonstrated not only will people travel to high quality events and exhibitions, they will travel by train where there is a fast and reliable service,” she said.
“Many of our sessions were sold out weeks in advance and local restaurateurs and accommodation providers reported increases in their takings.
“We will look forward to partnering with V/Line in the future for our next major exhibition."
The question that many are keen to have an answer to is ‘what’s next’?
"I am pleased to say we are working on some very exciting
exhibitions and look forward to sharing the details in the coming
months," Ms Quinlan said.
"Bendigo Art Gallery has staged several successful
international exhibitions; with the results providing extra fuel and
inspiration to our ambitions.
"The trajectory we have been on for several years will
continue, we are sure, with the upcoming building works helping us to
continue in our planned evolution and realise our greater vision. Grace
Kelly is not a one-off event."
Work on the gallery’s $8.4 million redevelopment has begun and will be completed in late 2013.
The extension will provide extra storage and exhibition
space to assist the Gallery in continuing its transformation and build
on its successes even further.
During the building works the gallery will continue to operate and
exhibit, although ticketed international exhibitions of the scale of
Grace Kelly will be programmed when the new spaces are relaunched.
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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