Home visit offer
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-Oct-2012
«
BE PREPARED: Mark Kelly is helping ahead of the fire season.
»
Even a fire-ready property cannot defend against Code Red days.
That’s the message CFA officers are taking out to people as they gear up for the fire season.
But for all other days, including “severe” and “extreme”, there are many ways you can prepare your house to give it the best chance in a bushfire.
Right now, the CFA is ramping up its information services, to help Victorians prepare for the summer.
If you’ve heard about the free Home Bushfire Advice Visit, but are hesitating about whether to sign
up, be assured it’s both easy and useful.
You can do it yourself online, but having the CFA drive up to your house, then talk you through your preparations is part of the excellent service all Victorians, particularly those of us living in rural areas, have access to.
As Advice Visit co-ordinator Neil Munro said, having a trained officer on your property means you can ask the questions that have been niggling at you, without fear it’s the “wrong” question.
“It’s confidential, and you get a written report for peace of mind,” Mr Munro said.
In the Bendigo region, the visits can be booked year-round, with Mark Kelly the officer who will show you where your house has vulnerable spots, and taking measurements to assess the radiant heat you can expect in a bushfire.
There is also a team sent out from the Melbourne base of the CFA, targeting different regions with letter-box campaigns explaining how the service works.
Some of those officers have been through the terrible fires of Black Saturday, so when they talk about how to survive, you listen.
According to Mr Kelly, the Advice Visit is particularly popular with new residents, tree-changers who understand the need to get up to speed on what to do, if the unthinkable happens.
“Most people remember what happened on Black Saturday, but after a couple of good years, we can become complacent,” he said
What you are looking for, either with the home visit or with your self-assessment, is “defendable space”, sufficient area around your house to reduce the risk of ember attack.
You also need a checklist of things to do to prepare your house, on a high-risk day.
If you do stay and defend (not on Code Red days, when, as the safety officers tell you, nothing is defendable), then be prepared to find it frightening and exhausting.
“Now’s the time to prepare,” Mr Kelly said.
“A well-prepared house has a much better chance of not catching fire.”
You can book a home visit online at www.cfa.vic.gov.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.”
Comment