Hospital tender questions
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 | 15-Oct-2012 UPDATE
MEMBER for Bendigo East Jacinta Allan has urged the State Government to put ideology aside, put patients first and ensure the $630 million hospital redevelopment is completed on time.
Ms Allan was commenting on reports Lend Lease may be banned from government projects because of a deal with the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union.
The deal is believed to include a number of details that go against tendering guidelines for government projects.
Lend Lease is part of one of the consortia budding for the Bendigo hospital redevelopment.
Ms Allan said if Lend Lease was not considered because of an ideological disagreement with the government, the project, and patients, could suffer.
"If the Baillieu Liberal National Government bans Lend Lease from future
government building works this will throw the tender process for the
new Bendigo hospital into chaos and take the whole project back to the
drawing board," she said.
"You have a competitive tender process so you get a competitive tender outcome.
“Due to Baillieu Government bungling, the construction of Bendigo’s new hospital is already delayed and it is likely that it will not be completed by the end of 2016 as promised.”
The State Government's response to the Lend Lease revelations left little wriggle room.
A spokesman from the department of Finance hightened speculation the hospital tender could be affected.
“All tenderers for government projects after 1 July are expected to be
familiar with the guidelines and submit tenders that comply with the guidelines," he said.
“It would not be appropriate to comment on particular
agreements which may be the subject of consideration and assessment by
the Department of Treasury and Finance. "
EARLIER
THE future of the $630 million Bendigo hospital redevelopment is unclear following suggestions one of the two bidders for the tender may not be eligible for the project.
The Age has reported construction giant Lend Lease has entered into an agreement with the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union, and as such may be banned from State Government projects.
Lend Lease is part of the Exemplar consortia bidding for the Bendigo hospital project, ne of two.
The group also includes Capella, Siemens, Spotless Services
In May, Health Minister David Davis announced the next step in the hospital tender process.
“The tender documents also require bidders to comply with the Victorian
Government’s new Implementation Guidelines to the Victorian Code of
Practice for the Building and Construction Industry," he said.
"The Implementation
Guidelines are designed to improve compliance with workplace laws,
promote productivity and ensure value for money for Victorian
taxpayers."
According to The Age, Lend Lease's agreement with the union
flies in the face of new State Government rules, and includes an
agreement to fly CFMEU flags from cranes.
The Implementation Guidelines says contractors for government projects must adopt policies that promote freedom of association, and an example of not promoting such freedom includes:
" • a requirement for an employer to apply union or any other logos, mottos or other indicia to company supplied property or equipment, including clothing, unless there is a requirement to do so in any existing enterprise agreement made before the application date of these Guidelines"
A spokesman from the department of Finance hightened speculation the hospital tender could be affected.
“All tenderers for government projects after 1 July are expected to be
familiar with the guidelines and submit tenders that comply with the guidelines," he said.
“It would not be appropriate to comment on particular agreements which may be the subject of consideration and assessment by the Department of Treasury and Finance. "
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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