Song to the Siren
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 | 13-May-2011 3.12
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NEW DOORS OPEN: Aimee Volkofsky – from the airwaves to the stage. Photo: ANDREW PERRYMAN at the Gold Dust Lounge Bendigo
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ABC presenter Aimee Volkofsky has stepped out of the studio and into the stage spotlight.
Recently I went to a fundraiser gig at the Newmarket Hotel, for Bendigo’s local Roller Derby League, the Dragon City Derby Dolls.
Billed as an Undead Dress-Up Party, there were roughly 30 undead-types milling about the crowd in various states of decay.
Several local bands played, but one artist in particular stood out.
A newbie to town as it turns out: Aimee Volkofsky.
You might know her name – indeed her voice – from ABC Local Radio.
For the past few months Aimee has been presenting Weekend Breakfast, getting up at sparrow’s to fill Central Victoria in on what’s happening weekend-wise.
Only that night – amid the atrophying flesh and car accident brides – Aimee used her voice to sing up a storm on stage.
Cool, calm and siren-like, she sang with the confidence of a veteran – not someone marking her first time on stage with a band.
Aimee tamed those undead spirits and conjured up those of PJ Harvey, Pattie Smith and Cat Power, such was the power of her voice and the comparisons which flew her way.
There’s nothing quite like seeing someone great perfom for the first time. How lucky am I?
In my own backyard too.
Growing up in the mining towns of western NSW, Aimee comes to Bendigo from Dubbo where she worked for two years at ABC Radio.
Needing a change, and with friends and family this way, Aimee decided to migrate south in early 2011.
“Bendigo resonated with me – the beautiful buildings and big wide streets felt familiar – plus it’s so close to Melbourne!”, she said when we met for a coffee.
She also revealed she hadn’t done much live performing.
Bendigo had been a bit of a launching pad.
“I’ve been writing songs for five to six years, recording in my bedroom and posting stuff on MySpace,” she said.
“You don’t get much opportunity to perform original music in Dubbo – only covers.
“It’s been liberating to play originals,” Aimee said of her experience at open mic nights at Bendigo’s Golden Vine Hotel (Tuesdays) and Basement Bar (Sundays).
Which is where she met her band members.
Drummer AJ ambushed her post-gig, insisting they jam after a great perfomance she gave at the Vine.
Aimee’s band – AJ, Ash French (bass) and Josh DeAraugo (lead guitar) – came together after only three rehearsals.
They sounded tight; moody, atmospheric. Perfect.
While fronting a band is a very different performance experience for Aimee – previously solo – she said: “It frees me up to perform songs in a way I haven’t before”.
Aimee describes herself as “lyrically creepy!” (one of her songs is about cutting off the legs of former lovers).
“I love writing lyrics and telling stories and doing music to go with it – it’s good fun.”
And perfoming on stage is pushing Aimee to a new level.
“It’s a risk to take yourself seriously enough to get gigs and invest time in your music that way,” she said, getting quiet for a moment.
“And I’ve only recently decided to do that. Doing that in Bendigo – it’s not an intimidating environment.
“And there’s a good group of creative people here trying to make live music happen.
“There are so many people here eager to collaborate.”
And what does she have to say about her debut with a band at the Undead Fundraiser?
“It was definitely exhilarating perfoming to a room full of people in crazy outfits,” she said with a smile.
It was just as exhilarating for the rest of us, discovering a great new talent.
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.”
