History can be made
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 | 17-Aug-2012
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CHOSEN: Lisa Chesters is the federal Labor candidate for Bendigo. Photo: ANDREW PERRYMAN
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By Rosemary Sorensen
When Lisa Chesters came to Bendigo this week, on a cold and mizzling day, a little gaggle of Labor Party members turned out to help present her to the media.
Among that group, her youth was obvious. When she mixed it with the journalists, most of them quite young, she was right at home.
How does it feel to be the sole candidate for pre-selection? What are Labor’s prospects for the election most say is unwinnable? Does living in Kyneton put you behind in the race to win the hearts and minds of Bendigo?
When she had fielded these questions, and the microphones were switched off, Ms Chesters was astonished.
“Really? That’s it? I was ready for more.”
Growing up on the Sunshine Coast, and schooled at Maroochydore State High then the University of Queensland, Ms Chesters sounds like a Queenslander. Eight years in Victoria, even as a union official, isn’t nearly enough to close a little some of those very open northern vowels.
“Party” is “pardy” and there’s a diphthong inserted into simple words such as “do” that makes them into word-and-a-half words.
She even does a slight upward-inflection on short sentences, such as “I’m excited now”.
What she says is short, to the point, pretty much party-line all the way, but there’s a warmth and openness in her public persona.
“If I am elected,” Ms Chesters said, “I’ll be the first woman to represent the electorate of Bendigo, another reason I’m very proud to contest the election here.
“But I will also say that gender is no longer an issue.
“When you’re out talking to people, they don’t care about gender, they don’t care about age.
“They just want to know you’re going to represent them and you’re going to listen to them.”
Ms Chesters has the jump on other endorsed and independent candidates, the first to be named.
Federal Member for Bendigo Steve Gibbons announced a year ago he will retire at the next election, due in 2013.
She deftly avoided the question about how different she may be to the sometimes incautious Mr Gibbons, by saying they have had “passionate debates” on some issues.
“I now have the opportunity to get out there in the electorate and let the community know my views,” Ms Chesters said.
She said her decision to leave her role as Bendigo region representative of United Voice (formerly Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union) was not taken lightly.
“It’s a lot of responsibility. I decided to put my hand up because I am really passionate about the core Labor agenda, which is jobs, better health, better education and a fairer society.”
Ms Chesters’ family owned a small business, and she said she was proud of her dad, who boasted about paying award wages, and criticised other businesses in the area that didn’t.
“That’s industrial relations, and that’s the Fair Work act,” she said.
The biographical details supplied for her first public outing listed Ms Chesters pastimes as gardening, reading and relaxing by playing the cello.
Footy team?
You can take the woman out of Queensland, but can you take Queensland out of the woman?
And yet, Ms Chesters will be at the Thunder’s first ever grand final on Saturday, cheering on Bendigo’s women AFL team.
As she said with enthusiasm and perhaps newly-acquired interest in Bendigo’s favourite sport, “Go women!”
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.”
member of Emily's List imposing themselves on us.