Hospital construction delay
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.”
Anthony Radford | Bendigo Weekly | 06-Sep-2012
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Health Minister David Davis in Bendigo today.
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HEALTH Minister David Davis has acknowledged construction of the new Bendigo hospital will not begin this year.
Construction work was supposed to begin in December, and the hospital’s own website still claims that.
However, speaking in Bendigo today, Mr Davis said construction would not begin until next year.
“Demolition of the former ambulance building in Arnold Street has started and will be completed next month,” he said.
“It allows site clearance to occur in preparation for construction of the new hospital to start in early 2013.”
Mr Davis said construction of new ambulance stations in Epsom, Eaglehawk, Strathdale, Uley Street in Central Bendigo and a new regional office and workshop in North Bendigo were completed and operational.
“The huge overhaul to ambulance services in Bendigo is part of the Victorian Coalition Government’s massive $630 million Bendigo Hospital Project,” Mr Davis said at the official opening the Bendigo CBD branch.
“We are working to ensure all Victorians have access to the highest quality ambulance service delivering timely responses during emergencies including here in Bendigo.
“As part of enabling works for the New Bendigo Hospital project we delivered $15 million to build four new ambulance stations and a new regional office and workshop.”
Mr Davis said the new ambulance facilities, together with an existing station in Kangaroo Flat, will mean paramedics are better placed to respond to critical medical emergencies in and around Bendigo.
“Patients in life threatening emergencies will benefit from reduced response times, with new branches to service growth areas,” he said.
Mr Davis said the State Government is delivering on its commitment to build a bigger and better Bendigo hospital with an additional $102 million in the 2011 budget.
“The new world-class Bendigo hospital is the biggest-ever regional hospital project in Victoria’s history,” he said
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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