Spending for the high flyers

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.”

Steve Kendall | Bendigo Weekly | 18-Nov-2011 4.57pm

Steve is on his soapbox again as drainage funding is held over in favour of other projects

I DREW some adverse comment last year when I dared to attack the “scarfia” of Bendigo whose only focus seems to be the expansion of the arts.
Of course the only attacks came from those with a vested interest in keeping the certain few in even bigger galleries and more extravagant shows.
Including council staff.
The art gallery does a magnificent job now, why does it need to be bigger?
The Capital struggles to fill all events, why not keep it as it is and make the events more across the board?
I can’t blame them for trying to expand with a cash injection, but it’s not all-encompassing enough for my liking.
But hey, it’s only seven or so million dollars.
It irks me even more when I find basic drainage and infrastructure is on the never-never backburner with council.
More than $40 million worth of repairs which need to be done to fix the drainage and make footpaths passable is being put off year-on-year.
What’s more, the list keeps growing as the infrastructure takes continued wear and tear.
Surely the City of Greater Bendigo council should be fixing roads, footpaths and drainage rather than ensuring they have a launch party to go to.
I love the launch parties too, but if I had known the repairs were on hold so there could be another coffee bar on View Street, I may have abstained.
Most people, if asked, would assume the council was here to keep the roads safe, empty the bins, and make sure the city runs.
Sure, tourism is important too, and seems to be quoted every time there is more spending, but at what cost?
If it costs $10 million to bring in $12 million that’s $2 million from tourism, not 12.
Crunching the numbers to suit is the second-oldest game in the book, seems to be a speciality for some.
I would knock back any charges of me being a philistine. I think there is a great need for arts and entertainment, I just don’t think it should lead the way on the council budget.
The mooted plan for the Bendigo jail site sounds more like it, a back to the roots venue which can provide a mixture of entertainment.
Next weekend’s Blues & Roots Music Festival is based around the hard work of music enthusiasts in the city.
Sure it has some council backing from the community grants scheme, which is to be applauded, but it is the hard work of volunteers which will bring in the crowds.
It will use existing venues and local musos and not at a huge cost to the public purse.
That way any money made by local business will be profit, not gross income.
Another way in which I think the council is heading in the right direction is a library refurb. At least most members of the community can benefit from the facilities on offer.
On a more practical note, if we leave it too long before fixing the problems, the thousands of people who flock to the arts venues will be stuck in the ruts in the footpath, or delayed by the crumbling infrastructure.
Never mind, perhaps council could place a helicopter pad in View Street.
I’m sure it would be passed immediately, and the Bendigo Airport would be moved back another year and filed under “too hard”.
But Christmas is coming, party season, forget all the worries until the new year.
Then it will be 2012 and a whole new range of funding can be delayed or diverted to the major arts, and the latte set will claim another victory for “culture”.