Sick idea

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.”

Anthony Radford | Bendigo Weekly | 18-Jun-2012

ONE of Bendigo’s most senior cancer fundraisers has described plans to build the city’s $630 million new hospital on two sites as a “disaster”.

Last week the Bendigo Weekly revealed the two-site plan was still on the table, despite the State Government ruling it out before the 2010 election.

The Weekly believes plans have been discussed to build the new hospital on both the existing acute site and the current Ann Caudle Centre campus.

It is understood the plan identifies savings of about $70 million, which would bring the project cost down to $560m.

One of the options is to extend the existing cancer treatment centre on the corner of Stewart and Bayne streets, instead of building a new one on the main campus of the new hospital.

It is believed the two consortia competing for the redevelopment have been briefed to look at a one-campus plan, with a budget of less than $560m.

The State Government has left the door open for the two-site plan, failing to deny it is an option.

Bendigo Radiotherapy Foundation chairman Bryan Baker, who campaigned for the single-site option when the former government came up with a two-site plan, said the option was abhorrent.

“It will be a disaster of they separate radiotherapy and the cancer centre from the main hospital site,” he said.

“It was horrific when we discovered the previous government was going to do it.

“It is crazy if you don’t have them linked.”

Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews told the Weekly that the government should back up its promise.

“This is another back flip from the Baillieu Government,” he said.

“In Opposition, the Liberal Party promised the new hospital would be built on one site.

“If it was good enough to promise that before the election, it’s good enough to deliver it now.”

Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards said the idea was a betrayal.

“The Liberal National government has pulled a complete hoax on the people of Bendigo when it comes to building Labor’s new Bendigo hospital,” she said.

“Reports they are now considering a two-site option and a reduction in funding of $70 million is a massive betrayal and reveals that they had no intention of ever building the new hospital as a single integrated stand-alone site.”