Ride to school and stay active
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.”
Eddie Barkla | Bendigo Weekly | 16-Mar-2012
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IN THE FRAME: Next Friday is Ride2School day.
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Friday, March 23 is the National Ride2School day when Australian students grab their wheels and ride to school, creating one of Australia’s largest celebrations of active participation.
It is anticipated more than 140,000 Australian kids at 1000 primary and secondary schools will participate.
Students and school communities across Australia will embrace a healthier start to the day.
National Ride2School Day is an opportunity to promote riding, scooting, skating and walking to school as a means of transport, which has proven health and wellbeing benefits.
It is the biggest day in the Bicycle Network’s Ride2School program calendar, and sees students in registered schools’ average riding rate increase to 48 per cent, more than double the national average.
Here in Bendigo, schools such as Spring Gully, White Hills, Epsom, St Monica’s Kangaroo Flat, Big Hill Golden Square, California Gully and Axedale primary schools have embraced this day with great enthusiasm.
Ride2School team manager Kelly Pearson said health authorities recommend children get a minimum of 60 minutes of physical activity each day.
Riding, scooting, skating or walking to and from school is an easy way to achieve this.
“Children who develop a healthy, active lifestyle when they are young are much more likely to maintain those habits in adulthood,” she said.
“National Ride2School Day is a great way to celebrate being active.”
All schools are encouraged to sign-up at www.ride2school.com.au
White Hills principal Damien Jenkyn has the good fortune to have passionate bike-riding parents, Kingsley and Elizabeth Morse-McNabb.
Kingsley organised Bendigo Cycles to conduct a bike maintenance session for parents and students alike, to ensure intending participants have a roadworthy cycle and the skills to assess when their bike may be in need of maintenance.
Kingsley and Elizabeth have also arranged Free Wheeling Fridays in the lead-up to the Ride2School Day.
Adult chaperones meet up with students and parents at pick-up points along the linear trail that runs from Lake Weeroona to Epsom.
On the outskirts of Bendigo at Axedale, principal Lex Johnston is intending to use a section of the O’Keefe Rail Trail for this popular annual activity.
With the upgrading and extension of the existing rail trail, Lex has realised the potential of this trail as being an additional recreational asset for his school.
He is planning to offer an active and healthy learning opportunity for Axedale students, well away from the busy roads and highways.
The Friends of the Bendigo-Kilmore Rail Trail have also been asked to assist the school with this Ride2School activity on the O’Keefe trail, which the Friends’ members know very well.
It is hoped the riding students will gain an appreciation of the trail facilities and its environment.
It also gives them a chance to become more aware of the friends group and its activities.
Friends convenor Garry Long said: “Not only will it be great to see the kids riding to school on the rail trail, we think this will also be a perfect opportunity to create our link with the school, and provide an update on the O’Keefe Rail Trail project.
“Also, we hope to talk about the vision of the Friends of the Bendigo-Kilmore Rail Trail, a vision to build upon the O’Keefe trail and create a 100km long Bendigo to Kilmore Rail Trail.”
Looking forward to seeing you on the road soon, God willing.
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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