Money heads south
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 | 01-May-2012 BUDGET NEWS
Bendigo's embattled legal fraternity received no good news in today's Victorian State Budget.
The only new court building this year will be a new children's court facility at Broadmeadows' Magistrates' Court, leaving Bendigo Magistrate's Court in its current dilapidated state for another year.
In education, Golden Square Primary receives $5 million for its classroom and administration upgrade.
And as part of a boost to vulnerable children services, the Loddon-Mallee region will share (with the Grampians and Gippsland) in a $2.2 million allocation for early childhood development workers.
Castlemaine was the big winner locally, with $10 million to upgrade the hospital and $7 million for the modernisation of Castlemaine Secondary College.
The Housing Industry Association has also condemned the State Government’s decision to cut the highly successful State Government First Home Owners Bonus.
The bonus, which comes on top of the Federal First Home Owners Grant, means that metropolitan home buyers have been eligible for up to $20,000 and in Regional Victoria up to $26,500.
The HIA called cutting the Bonus a short-sighted decision. .
Nationals Member for Northern Victoria Damian Drum said the budget invested more than $30 million in major projects in Bendigo and Castlemaine.
“It is a testament to the Coalition Government’s regional resolve that we have been able to deliver on these vital projects – even though Victoria is facing enormous financial challenges from outside forces,” he said.
“Despite having billions of dollars ripped out of our economy by the Federal Government’s GST changes, the world economic slowdown and the inherited bungling from the previous Labor Government, our local communities are still being backed totally.”
Mr Drum praised Nationals Bendigo West candidate Steven Oliver.
“Steven pushed very hard for the Castlemaine Hospital and Secondary College, and the Budget commitments are due – in no small part – to him," he said.
“This is on top of funding commitments from Steven which have already been delivered, such as the 24-hour ambulance service, and the upgrade of the QEO football and netball facilities.”
Mr Drum said the Golden Square Primary School had been pushing hard to complete the merger first agreed two by the Laurel Street and Maple Street schools in 2009, but which had remained unfunded by the previous government.
“I was particularly delighted to see the funding for Bendigo’s Multi-Disciplinary Centre against sexual assault in this year’s state budget," he said.
“It allows various state agencies and regional organisations to unite to provide a better co-ordinated care for sexual assault victims and their families.
“Bendigo shares in a broad push by the Liberal/Nationals Government to come up with better approaches to deal with the deep-seated problems of sexual assault,” he said.
Mr Drum said other budget items which would be of "enormous importance" to our region included a major new investment in V/Line carriages for regional Victoria.
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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