Medical centre ready to go

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 | 19-Sep-2012

A flagship Medical Centre will be the centrepiece of a new facility just opened on the edge of the CBD in Bendigo.

City of Greater Bendigo director City Futures Stan Liacos and developers Adam Sevdalis and Chris Adams toured the Leading Health Care building in Mollison Street this week.

The building already houses Pacific Smiles Dental, with IPN Medical Centre to open next month.

IPN’s Craig Coombs said their new Centre will relocate doctors from Sandhurst Medical Practice on Barnard Street and Strathfieldsaye Medical Practice in Edwards Road, and will comprise 17 consulting rooms with procedure and treatment rooms, including a five-bed “ward” that will operate like a mini-emergency centre.

“The idea is to take some load off the public hospital system in time,” Mr Coombs said.

Mr Sevdalis said the facility has taken more than three years to develop, and is “unique for the region”.

“You could call it a superclinic,” he said.

“It has brought a multi-purpose health centre to Bendigo, and I would like to thank City of Greater Bendigo council for showing faith in the project.”

As well as the Dental and General Practice centres, the building is already tenanted to a pharmacy and pathology service, with the developers canvassing other health-related businesses to take up the spaces on the third floor which is currently vacant.

Mr Sevdalis said there is provision for 60 carparks on site and they are also talking to council about changing the street parking from all-day to timed.