Where will the people go?
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 | 07-Jun-2011 2.37
Accomodating
our growing population is one of our community’s most pressing
concerns.
This
was highlighted in a recent report by the Productivity Commission, in
which Australians were surveyed about attitudes to population growth
and the increased density required to house it.
The
report found that the majority of Australians indicated that they
would not like increased population.
In Melbourne, 52 per cent said
they would not like it, while a mere 11 per cent said they would.
The
reasons behind the resistance to higher population were not
surprising: 86 per cent said increased traffic congestion was the
main reason, followed by increased noise and loss of street appeal.
Shadows from higher buildings and decreased property values were also
cited as a problem.
Conversely,
those who were in favour of increased population cited increased
property values, improved services and more vibrant suburbs as
positive factors.
It’s
fascinating that on both sides of the debate, property values are an
issue.
While
not included in the survey, the message is clear that most people do
not want to see housing affordability further reduced.
Those
surveyed were also asked to rate different types of development,
indicating which of five different variants they most favoured.
The
least popular form was ‘multiple dwellings replacing single
dwellings’ (basically infill development), which 53 per cent of
those surveyed opposed; compare this to the much more favourable
rating given to ‘residential development in a new area’, which
was only opposed by 29 per cent.
The
problem for our community and its decision makers is that none of
these factors adds up to a solution.
Opposition
to infill development is in part why the cost of infill development
is higher and the preference given to ‘greenfields’ development
results in higher costs for government in the form of more roads and
public transport.
Given
that the inability to provide enough homes is the main cause of
reduced affordability, solving this issue will also provide the keys
to improved housing affordability.
Enzo Raimondo
CEO REIV
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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