The Golden Hat
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.”
Rosemary Sorensen | Bendigo Weekly | 30-Mar-2012
We all know how lovely and talented Kate Winslet is. But how about her friend Margret Dagmar Ericsdottir?
She is the founder of Icelandic film production company, Frontier Filmworks, the producer of a documentary The Sunshine Boy, mother of Erik, Unnar and Keli, the latter of whom has nonverbal autism.
Between them (Kate and Margret) they have created a big, glossy collector’s book called The Golden Hat, which is a collection of celebrity photos with a little twist.
It came about when Winslet narrated the documentary about nonverbal autism made by Margret.
As she learned more about autism, and also grew close to the family Ericsdotter, Winslet conceived a plan for a book. Asking friends and colleagues in the film, television, music sport and fashion industries, Winslet gave them her favourite fedora hat, asked them to take a self-portrait, and to add a single quote – what their first words would be if they had been unable to communicate their entire life, and suddenly could.
Some of the photos and comments are predictable (such as Julia Roberts saying “Hi, I love you”). Others are funny (predictably, Woody Allen, who says, “Get off my property”).
Leonardo DiCaprio poses with his very ugly dog wearing the hat, and his comment (or the dog’s) is “Finally!”.
Proceeds from the book will help the Golden Hat Foundation, set up by Winslet and Ericsdottir to assist people with autism.
Bendigo woman Kelly Andrews has also created a book about autism.
The former childcare worker wrote 100 Kisses of Autism about her son, Sam.
While autism is “no laughing matter”, she says, she wanted to focus on the “humorous love-filled moments” that make her smile every day. The first kiss records the day Sam told his father, “I’m better than you Dad – I’m stronger and smarter and I have more autism”.
Kelly says humour helps grow confidence, and is also a “necessary tool for survival”.
100 Kisses of Autism is available online for $19.95.
The Golden Hat: Talking Back to Autism is published by Simon and Schuster, $29.99.
To go in the draw for a copy of The Golden Hat, email bookclub@bendigoweekly.com.au with Golden Hat in the subject line, by 5pm Wednesday.
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.”
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