Council silent on gallery debate
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 | 29-Oct-2012 First for news
Greater Bendigo officials have refused to enter into a public debate with newly elected councillor Elise Chapman over her view on slashing art gallery funding.
Cr Chapman caused an online sensation yesterday when she told the Bendigo Weekly she wanted to cut the gallery's budget.
“We spend millions of dollars trying to attract people to
the art gallery and Capital Theatre and year after year they are making
millions of dollars of losses, both of them,” she said.
“I don’t know how it continuously makes the losses it does.
“I think the budget needs to be slashed.
“The majority of people are not happy and believe the art gallery is for the chosen few who can afford it.”
The story created a storm on the Weekly's website and on Twitter and Facebook.
Council and gallery staff refused to comment today, and long-time councillor and gallery patron Rod Fyffe said the issue would be resolved in-house.
"I am very happy for council officers to present figures to all councillors so everyone knows exactly what is what," he said.
"It is best everyone gets up-to-date information so we all understand the cost and the contribution of the gallery."
Last financial year the gallery made a loss of $300,000.
EARLIER
A new Greater Bendigo councillor has called for the art gallery’s budget to be slashed.
Lockwood Ward provisionally-elected councillor Elise Chapman said Bendigo Art Gallery, which attracted record numbers in the last financial year, is for a "chosen few".
“We spend millions of dollars trying to attract people to the art gallery and Capital Theatre and year after year they are making millions of dollars of losses, both of them,” she said.
“I don’t know how it continuously makes the losses it does.
“I think the budget needs to be slashed.
“The majority of people are not happy and believe the art gallery is for the chosen few who can afford it.”
Ms Chapman said she was keen to shake things up.
“A lot of people need a rocket up their bums and if that has to be me (that does it), so be it,” she said.
Ms Chapman said she would push for tighter fiscal control at council.
“I am not going to vote for any rates rise next year. My plan is to honour all of my election pledges,” she said.
“Everything seems to take so long and run over budget.
“There does need to be restrictions of how council’s money is spent.”
Ms Chapman said she supported an independent review of council, and criticised the idea of having a playground in Hargreaves Mall.
“We are throwing good money after bad and we are flogging a dead horse,” she said.
“There is no point trying to put a band aid on an arterial wound.”
Ms Chapman thanked the community for their support.
“I am shocked, thrilled, excited and anxious,” she said.
“I am so honoured the community has given me a chance to represent them, now it’s up to me to prove myself.”
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.”
