Sharelle McMahon to head expert panel into sports injury prevention

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 | 15-Nov-2011 4.39pm

Australian Diamonds Commonwealth Games Captain Sharelle McMahon

Victorian Diamond to head expert panel into sports injury prevention

Australian Diamonds Commonwealth Games captain and Vixens co-captain,
Sharelle McMahon, will chair a new taskforce to investigate the issue of
sports injury prevention, the Minister for Sport and Recreation Hugh
Delahunty announced today.

Mr Delahunty said Sharelle was well placed to lead the taskforce of
prominent academics in the sport injury field, who will lend their
extensive sports injury prevention expertise.

“Increasing participation in sport and recreation – getting people more
active, more often - is high on my agenda, and this government is working
hard to reach that goal,” Mr Delahunty said.

“As we work towards that goal, a key success factor is to identify and
address all the blockers that prevent people from leading a more active
lifestyle.

“There are many barriers to fitness, but injury and fear of injury are
significant obstacles to boosting and sustaining participation in sport.

“A large number of sports injuries can be prevented or reduced simply by
improving knowledge in the community on how to better respond to injuries
when they occur.”

Mr Delahunty met with the Sports Injury Prevention Taskforce for the first
time today, which will deliver a report in 2013 to support sporting bodies,
sports management authorities and local government with risk management
strategies and sports injury prevention plans. Members of the taskforce
are:

- Ms Sharelle McMahon (Chair)
- Professor Caroline Finch (Monash University)
- Professor Geraldine Naughton (Australian Catholic University)
- Dr Dara Twomey (University of Ballarat)
- Ms Lynne Sheehan (Sports Medicine Australia)
- Mr Cameron McLeod (VicHealth)
- Mr Mark McAllion (Vicsport)
- Mr John Smith (Municipal Association of Victoria)
- Mr Colin Sindall (Department of Health)
- Mr Michael Cahill (Department of Planning and Community Development).

Taskforce Chair, Sharelle McMahon said she was delighted to accept the role
of chair, and to be working with an expert panel in sports injury
prevention.

“As an elite athlete and someone who is currently making a comeback from a
serious injury, I know only too well the impact of injury – not just as an
individual, but as a member of a team,” Ms McMahon said.

“Thankfully I have a great team of doctors, surgeons and physios that have
helped me get back on the court, but people out there playing community
sport don’t always have that luxury.

“Through this taskforce we now have a wonderful opportunity to help
communities, teams and individuals to be more proactive in sports injury
prevention.”

The establishment of the Sports Injury Prevention Taskforce was a 2010
election commitment.