Mine jobs saved
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-Jul-2012 Tourism future assured
THE State Government has announced a $300,000 grant to rescue Bendigo’s Central Deborah Goldmine from rising mine water.
The announcement by Northern Victorian MP Damian Drum on behalf of the Minister for Regional and Rural Development Peter Ryan, will provide for pumps and equipment to keep the rapidly rising groundwater below the Central Deborah’s tourism levels.
Mr Drum, who is also Parliamentary Secretary for Regional and Rural Development, said the level of groundwater was rapidly rising since Bendigo Mining had ceased its commercial mining operation.
For the past 20 years Bendigo Mining has been pumping the entire Bendigo mine shaft system so that it could carry out its mining operation in the same way that any underground mining company does.
However, since mining at the Kangaroo Flat decline was wound up and the associated pumping activities ceased, the groundwater has steadily been rising.
Without this assistance from the State Government, Central Deborah’s tourism experience at Level 9 is expected to be underwater by September and as the groundwater continues to rise it would then spill out into Bendigo’s creek systems returning the city to an earlier era when parts of the city regularly smelled of “rotten eggs”.
“The pumping at the Central Deborah is important to all of Bendigo,” Mr Drum said.
Mr Ryan said the Central Deborah Gold Mine Ground Water Pumping and Discharge Project would directly save 25 jobs, retain additional jobs at The Bendigo Trust and keep local volunteers engaged.
Mr Ryan said the mine was the second last to close out of more than 6000 mines dug throughout the Bendigo goldfields between 1854 and 1954.
“Today the mine offers guided underground tours and has hosted about 750,000 visitors since restoration by The Bendigo Trust in 1986.
“Conserving the Central Deborah Gold Mine is a critical tourist drawcard for the city."
Mr Ryan said Victorian Government funding for the Central Deborah Gold Mine Ground Water Pumping and Discharge Project would be provided to The Bendigo Trust through the $1 billion Regional Growth Fund’s Putting Locals First Program.
“Putting Locals First is a $100 million initiative that enables regional communities to devise and deliver service and infrastructure responses that reflect local priorities,” Mr Ryan said.
The project is expected to be completed by November.
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.”
