INSPIRATION
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 | 02-Sep-2011 3.41PM
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FAMILY SUPPORT: Megan Anderson with parents Jacquie and Michael. Photo: ben cameron
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Ride sheds light on mental health
Cutting a few laps is an everyday outlet for most teenagers with a driver’s licence.
But for inspirational 15-year-old Megan Anderson, she’ll be doing 500 laps on a bike, to raise money and awareness for adolescent mental health.
While many in Bendigo would baulk at the idea of riding to work even once a week, Megan will cycle 206 kilometres in one day, at the Tom Flood Velodrome on Friday, October 14, with funds raised going to St Luke’s youth mental health camps and Federal Government health initiative headspace.
“It should take about eight hours,” Megan said with a wry grin, all too aware of the hard work ahead.
But a few hundred laps of the velodrome will be nothing compared to the mental hurdles the Bendigo South East College student has scaled in the past 12 months.
Megan’s troubles began a few years ago when she began fainting.
Thinking it was hereditary, the family weren’t too concerned until early last year, when she began fainting up to 10 times a week.
Turns out Megan suffered from psychogenic seizures; a condition where mental stress can manifest into physical difficulties.
“It comes from the stress of school and school work,” she said of the conversionary illness.
At its worst, the family estimated she had more than 80 episodes in third term last year; most of them happening at school, which came with large physical and social implications.
But along with a solid network of support from family and friends, integral to her recovery has been the bike, and today, she suffers just one seizure in a normal week, depending on how she’s feeling.
In preparation for the October ride, Megan took another impressive step forward recently, when she spoke to nearly 200 Year 9 students about her recent battles, and the importance of resilience.
“It wasn’t a choice (to improve), I had to,” she said of her recovery.
The speech moved pretty much the entire crowd.
“I reckon I saw about 40 kids break down, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house,” Year 9 BSE Learning Team
leader Steve Thorn said.
“We spend hundreds of dollars in motivational speakers for our Life Skills sessions.
“It was the most powerful session I’ve done.”
On the day the Bendigo Weekly walked the grounds of South East
Bendigo College, one student came up to Megan and said: “you inspire me”.
After the ride, and high school, Megan has plans on working in mental health, with children.
“With the huge support from my family, friends and school I am well on the way to recovery,” she said.
“I have realised how a mental illness can truly affect every aspect of your life. I feel heaps better about everything.”
Local cyclists can get involved with four consecutive Sunday cycles leading up to the big ride, starting on Sunday, September 11, with the final ride will finish in the gardens of Nanga Gnulle, on Sunday October 2.
To support Megan, cheques can be sent to Bendigo South East College, Meggi’s Ride and addressed to BSEC, Ellis St, Flora Hill 3550.
For more information, contact Mr Anderson on 0439
433 057.
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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