Let’s bring it 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.”
Bendigo Weekly | Bendigo Weekly | 16-Aug-2012
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Hear this: Gideon Haigh at The Capital. Photo: ANDREW PER
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“Thanks for a fabulous festival,” one of those who came to the first Bendigo Writers Festival wrote this week.
“Highlights for me were Margo Lanagan and Alex Miller and the concert with Arnold Zable and the woman with the fantastic voice. I will certainly come again.”
That woman with the fantastic voice was Kavisha Mazzella, who joined us from Melbourne last Sunday, making the trip with a friend.
Now it’s all over and successful beyond our wildest dreams, we can reveal just a little of what went on behind the scenes.
Like, for instance, that moment when volunteer coordinator Deborah Blake realised the train on which Kavisha was expected to arrive was delayed by more than an hour.
Deborah did a quick calculation and paled: Kavisha wasn’t going to make it.
The good news that Kavisha hadn’t actually been on that delayed train and had got a lift by car to Bendigo came through soon after, and Deborah breathed a sigh of relief.
For anyone who has ever organised anything, these stories will be familiar. You do your best, and then you cross your fingers and prepare for the worst.
Well, Bendigo must be in fate’s good books at the moment.
Although we disappointed a few people who didn’t get the news of Ita Buttrose’s change of session time, and made some others cross with back-to-back sessions proving difficult, it all went remarkably smoothly for a first-time festival.
This is testament to what started us on the path to creating this in the first place: a city blessed with a glorious venue in a lovely street close to the centre of town; many people with experience and skills ready to be tapped to create a strong foundation for a festival; and a council and a university willing and able to provide the support necessary for such a venture.
In some ways, the hard work starts now.
This festival rose in a rush of enthusiasm and goodwill, and we were blessed with the calibre of writers who came to take part.
Now, you can bet your bottom dollar, everyone will know how we can improve, who we should invite, what should be on the program.
Bring it on Bendigo, let’s hear your ideas and let’s keep it bold, fun, challenging and charming.
To presenters La Trobe University and City of Greater Bendigo council (including Bendigo Tourism and The Capital), to the board and staff of this newspaper, the Bendigo Weekly, to sponsors Bendigo TAFE, Telstra Bendigo Business Centres, ABC Central Victoria and The Wheeler Centre, and to all our other supporters, thanks.
To the bookclubbers of the Bendigo Weekly, you were the first public sounding board for the development of the Bendigo Writers Festival, privy to its development from the ground up. Thanks for listening.
And stay tuned: we’ll keep you up to date if and, hopefully, when, news comes through about the future of Bendigo Writers Festival.
– Rosemary Sorensen
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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