It's just not cricket
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.”
Peter Kennedy | Bendigo Weekly | 06-Jan-2012 4.04pm
A funny thing happened this summer as the Australian Test cricket team set about restoring some much-needed pride at the expense of the visiting Indian team.
While the traditional five-day game continues its revival, the game continues to feast upon itself via the phenomenon known as Twenty20, or T20.
T20 is destroying real cricket. And we’re letting it happen, all for massive bucks.
This shorter version of the shortened version of the game is reflective of society in general, and what is considered to be popular (or what actually is popular), as measured by what is in the most public demand at the time.
Our throw-away society of today has a minimal attention span, and not enough constants in their lives to keep them sufficiently occupied. They need fast, easily digestible, disposable forms of entertainment and distraction. Nothing that makes them think, or to be patient to fully appreciate the better, more talented, deeper aspects of the finer things in life.
Fast food pays the bills that allow T20 to exist. Those images of high-profile cricketers being interviewed wearing their team uniforms plastered in the branding of a certain fast food company say it all.
I can only wonder how often these highly-paid athletes actually eat the fast food they promote.
A combination of the rise of celebrity culture, the speed of communication in the modern age and social media has eroded genuine values.
Into this breech steps T20 cricket. The brainless masses are dazzled by big shots, bright lights and dancing girls. And all over in about three hours to keep the instant and fast gratification flowing.
This is where the money is and so the powers will chase it and pander to it.
An appreciation of the finer points of the wonderful, elegant, masterful game that is test cricket cannot fit into the brain-dead modern society. It’s too much for them to take in, when there are so many other easy, instant quick fixes out there. Test cricket offers no instant gratification in the modern world – which is what the modern world is all about.
Patience used to be a virtue. Now, for many, it seems to be problematic.
And so in our desire to cash in we are damaging our cricketers. Flat and docile wickets designed for T20 cricket are the diet of our young developing players – and so when confronted with a wicket like Hobart, it goes into the too hard basket. We blame the wicket for being too hard to bat on. And New Zealand pulls off one of the great upsets of the modern era.
With thanks to James Aanensen for his insights and shared passion for the way cricket used to be.
pk@bendigoweekly.com.au
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.”
Comment