Kitted out for the festival

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 | 06-Jul-2012

DRESSED FOR SUCCESS: Bendigo Writers Festival volunteer co-ordinator Deborah Blake with Telstra Business Centre operations manager Kylie Webster.

What’s black and white and read all over?

The Telstra-backed volunteer skivvies arrived this week, the next step towards the inaugural Bendigo Writers Festival which takes place at The Capital and surrounds in View Street on August 10,11 and 12.

Nick Papaz of Telstra Business Centre Bendigo said backing the Writers Festival is a way for the company to show their appreciation to the people of Bendigo.

“Telstra Business believes we need to invest in our local community to support the growth of Bendigo and the region,” Mr Papaz said.

“We want to support what it has to offer to the rest of both Victoria and Australia.”

This week Capital Theatre Finance administrator Deborah Blake, who is also BWF’s volunteer co-ordinator, met with Kylie Webster of Telstra Business Centre Bendigo to try out the new skivvies.

“We’re getting together a big group of volunteers who will be helping out across the festival weekend,” Ms Blake said.

“Wearing these distinctive black skivvies, they’ll be easy to spot.”

Ms Blake said anyone interested in volunteering can register their interest by emailing d.blake@bendigo.vic.gov.au.

“There’s already a lot of interest in the new festival, a real buzz about it,” she said.

“We know there are many people ready to show their support.”