Littlies have a say
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 | 12-Oct-2012
«
WHICH ONE? The end-users will make the call on the play area they prefer.
»
THE littlies of Bendigo are about to break the hearts of two grown men. A third will be smiling broadly.
This week, Greater Bendigo Community Wellbeing director Pauline Gordon released three designs for the mall playground, and introduced the three men whose units were responsible for the designs.
Gary Lantzsch, a landscape architect, Lincoln Fitzgerald, recreation manager, and Orrin Hogan, of the “natural and passive reserves” department, have each been sweating over their teams’ designs for the long-disputed mall playground.
The winning design will now be chosen by those for whom the playground is being built – children.
Ms Gordon said information and posters about the playground designs will be going out to 80 prep and pre-schools this week.
“Each design will have its own story attached and teachers will be telling the tales of each concept when they present the images to the children,” Ms Gordon said.
“The kids will then put a sticker on the one they like best.”
Council will tally the votes and the $150,000 installation will begin within a couple of months.
“We heard loud and clear from the traders that they want something for young families,” Ms Gordon said.
“This will make a more active and entertaining space, with colour and vibrancy.
“This has really been a collective effort across council, to make the CBD a place people want to come to.”
Ms Gordon said the idea to get five-year-olds to vote makes the final decision “an exciting little exercise on its own”.
“Straight away, everyone will have a view,” she said.
“I think it’s just as risky leaving it up to big people.”
Mr Lantzsch’s team’s design has a big red dragon as its main feature.
“You’ve got to have something special, something unique, for a playground, because the standards have gone up,” he said.
Mr Fitzgerald’s team’s playground has a boat and house design, and includes elements that are flexible, so they can be swapped around with other playspaces in the city, to provide variety.
There are hiding holes and a lookout tower, with (artificial) grass and some shade to complement the trees now growing in the mall.
Mr Hogan’s team also came up with a dragon, as part of a flora-and-fauna themed space.
Ms Gordon said all three designs are costed and ready for implementation.
She said this first phase of the mall upgrade will be followed by other initiatives, such as introducing planter boxes and “shrubbery”.
The third initiative, providing activities such as chess and trampolines in the mall, is ongoing, with a stage soon to be installed.
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.”
