Now for the funding chase
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 | 10-Feb-2012
Sanity prevailed at this week’s City of Greater Bendigo council meeting when the decision was made to support a 50 metre swimming pool at Kangaroo Flat over the 25m option originally proposed.
And while everyone acknowledges the 50 metre option will cost about 10 per cent, or $3 million more, it must be pointed out that no one expects the City of Greater Bendigo to have to foot the bill for the entire $3 million price difference between the two options canvassed by councillors.
Bendigo now needs to turn to its elected representatives to do what they are paid to do – represent us, and funding for this project is almost certain to become a major election issue both in 2013 (federal election) and 2014 (state election). Bendigo is the seat of two marginal state seats and this community should expect tightly fought and an even more vigorous than usual campaign in the lead-up to November 2014.
Federally, Steve Gibbons will bow out in 2013, 15 years after first winning the seat of Bendigo. While his margin is almost double digit, only a fool would seriously believe that it would hold up to this extent considering the mess federal politics has become.
This week’s revelation that Bendigo is growing far more quickly than our residential housing strategy had predicted, coupled with December’s confirmation that we are one of the fattest, most overweight and unhealthy municipalities in the state, are two more important considerations to weigh up in considering whether to opt for a possible 25 metre pool or a 50 metre complex.
Cr Reade was right when he said Council did not have the financial means to manage the proposed swimming pool project in the foreseeable future. That said, this is where the relationships between the three levels of government now need to be put to the test for the benefit of the community.
The report to councillors considered at this week’s meeting also makes one other very interesting point: ‘’What is more difficult to measure is the cost of the social benefit and sense of community pride in a 50 metre swimming pool.’’
Undoubtedly, one of the tougher aspects surrounding the adoption of an aquatic strategy will be the closure of other pools and transformation of others, an issue that has attracted a lot of emotion, debate and controversy over the past decade whenever it’s been mentioned.
Councillors should be congratulated for this week’s decision. The support for a new 50 metre swimming pool complex at Kangaroo Flat embodies a lot more vision, strategic thinking, community support and even bravery than the alternative.
The decision rightly commits this community to the pursuit of the very best option, something we should always strive for, and so now begins the campaign to attract a level of funding both the project and the community deserves.
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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