Transport stalemate
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 | 02-Oct-2012 Your best election coverage
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Moderator Keith Sutherland introduces the candidates.
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CANDIDATES standing in this month’s Greater Bendigo council elections have highlighted the struggle the city’s rapid growth will have on its roads and public transport system.
At a Bendigo IPTv candidate’s forum this week, councillors spoke of the significant challenge in sorting out Bendigo’s traffic woes.
Council was forced to abandon a VicRoads plan for a ring road through the city’s south western fringe earlier this year after a string community campaign.
On top of this, the Bendigo Weekly revealed in May a Public Transport Victoria survey had found more than half the city’s bus users did not have, or couldn’t afford to run, a car.
That meant only half of the bus users were making a choice to use public transport, and almost no passengers took the bus to work.
Lockwood Ward candidate Karel Zegers said it was impossible to end Australians’ love affair with driving their cars.
“I don’t think we will ever get a commercially viable public transport system,” he said.
“(There is) no hope in foreseeable future to make it viable in the Bendigo area.”
Councillor Bruce Phillips said public transport in Bendigo was not affordable or useable.
“It is going to be a long time before we can convince people to leave their cars at home,”
Councillor Peter Cox agreed.
“At the moment we have a public transport system for people on social service,” he said.
“We need to have a public transport system for everybody.”
Lockwood Ward candidate Elise Chapman said she did not know how to fix the problem, and councillor Barry Lyons said traffic in the south of the city was already at congestion point.
“The public transport system isn’t too bad but it is not being used,” he said.
“I don’t know how you change the culture of the people.”
However, Lockwood Ward candidate Karen Corr said the issue presented Bendigo with an opportunity.
She said Bendigo was in a position to be able to build a sustainable transport strategy from scratch.
“It is the most exciting opportunity we have as a city,” she said.
“We need better bus service ... (and) we also need the biggest engagement strategy we have ever seen in this city.”
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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