IT'S ON

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.”

Rosemary Sorensen | Bendigo Weekly | 28-Sep-2012

FEMALE PLUS: Lisa Ruffell, Helen Leach, Jennifer Mitchell-Sharp, Wendy Radford, Karen Corr, Elise Chapman and Elaine Harrington. Photo: ANDREW PERRYMAN

While the total number of candidates for the Greater Bendigo council elections has fallen this year, the participation of women is up.
Seven women have nominated to run in the three new wards, a ratio of one in three.
The current council of nine has only one female member, Lisa Ruffell, who is running for election again in the Whipstick Ward.
She is joined by Jennifer Mitchell-Sharp and Elaine Harrington, the female trio outnumbering the men (current councillor Peter Cox and new candidate James Williams) running in that Ward.
In Lockwood, a trio of women is also running: Elise Chapman, Wendy Radford and Karen Corr. They are just outnumbered in that ward, where three sitting members – Bruce Phillips, Barry Lyons and Rod Fyffe – are joined by Karel Zegers in the race for election.
Eppalock Ward has attracted the largest field, with Helen Leach the sole female up against eight men, including current mayor Alec Sandner and his fellow sitting member Rod Campbell. The other candidates in the nine-strong field are Mark Weragoda, George Flack, Stuart Fraser, Tim Bardsley and Julian Poloniato.
A campaign run by the Victorian Local Governance Association this year highlighted the gender imbalance on local councils.
While the increase in nominations by women was small (from 31 per cent in 2008 to 33 this year), the VLGA was heartened by the fact that there is at least one woman standing for election in every council in Victoria.
“In 2012, almost 80 per cent of wards have at least one woman candidate, up from 75 per cent.
“The barriers preventing women standing for public office are significant but they are not insurmountable,” CEO of the VLGA Maree McPherson said.
“We have clear evidence that ensuring women have information and resources about local government means they will nominate for council.
“If we want to increase women’s participation in local government, we need long-term investment in developing women’s capacity as community leaders and election candidates.”