Waste on agenda
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 | Bendigo Weekly | 16-Feb-2012
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TIP IT: Waste is being considered as an energy source.
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IT is now cheaper for Bendigo’s rubbish to be trucked out of the city, than dumped and stored in the Eaglehawk landfill.
A new contract signed between the City of Greater Bendigo council and Cohuna-based waste services company Ellwaste late last year has raised questions about the future of the Eaglehawk facility.
It costs about $120 a tonne for council to dump its 120,000 tonnes of rubbish at Eaglehawk.
Ellwaste is trucking about 50,000 tonnes of rubbish to a landfill in Patho, at a cost of only $77 a tonne for municipal waste and $94 a tonne for industrial waste. The average is about $80 a tonne.
The difference in price is because the Patho facility does not attract the hefty $44 a tonne EPA levy Bendigo and Melbourne tips do.
The five-year contract is an attempt to ease the burden on Eaglehawk while the $1.5 million fifth cell is constructed.
There were plans to create a sixth cell, but changes in storm water regulations have eaten up available space.
Council is also looking at beginning rehabilitation works at Eaglehawk.
It is expected to cost more than $10 million to rehabilitate the tip, a project that is unlikely to start this financial year.
Council is looking at its entire waste strategy to see how it can manage rubbish into the future.
One of the plans on the table is an Australian-first facility to recycle every piece of household rubbish.
A new tip at Bagshot is also still an option.
Council Presentation and Assets director Darren Fuzzard said whatever the solution it would take at least five years to come online.
“We need to make a decision as to how we handle waste,” he said.
“We need to change community expectation and start viewing waste as a resource.
“It is not essential for council to have a tip. Is trucking it out of the city long term the best option?
“Legally, council does not have a responsibility for commercial and industrial waste.”
Attitudes are turning to creating energy from waste.
“Does the community want a hard waste kerbside collection and will they pay for it?
“Will they pay for a greenwaste kerbside collection?
“We need to look at all of this.”
Mayor Alec Sandner said waste management continues to be a major issue for council.
“The City of Greater Bendigo will be seeking expressions of interest from community members interested in being part of the new advisory committee and advertisements have been placed,” he said.
“We will be looking for people with diverse knowledge and experience from the business, industry and waste sectors, from community groups as well as domestic waste users.”
To find out more, contact Susan Hayes on 5434 6039.
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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