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REFRESH YOUR BROWSER FOR THE LATEST UPDATES
The Bendigo Advertiser will be updating live from the chamber tonight.
Much debate is expected for several big-ticket planning items on the agenda this week.
The Rosalind Park Master Plan, a proposal for a 61-lot subdivision at Kangaroo Flat, an updated Bendigo Hospital redevelopment plan, and group accommodation at Belvoir Park Road, Ravenswood, will all be considered by councillors. Background here.
UPDATE 8.50PM: All wrapped up here, with councillors now giving their reports from the past three weeks.
Lots of big issues decided on tonight.
Be sure to log onto the Bendigo Advertiser site later tonight for our full stories from tonight's meeting.
UPDATE 8.45PM: Cr James Williams calls on council to write to Minister Terry Mulder asking for an urgent meeting to discuss timetabling, allocation of rolling stock and the operation of the Footscray hub and service improvements on the Bendigo line.
He said more services were needed to meet greater demand.
Cr Cox said to join with fellow councils and get an assurance from the government for future support was vital.
UPDATE 8.22PM: No one left in the gallery now. Cr Campbell's wife reads the paper as councillors discuss some minor issues.
UPDATE 8.04PM: Pool fees being debated now.
Cr Chapman and Leach backs family passes, saying they allowed affordable access to local pools.
Cr Campbell says 12 pools is a lot for this region, with Cr Cox saying community groups should be supported and praised for their work to keep the smaller pools open.
UPDATE 7.53PM: Councillors discuss the council's Violence Prevention plan, which is available to the public.
"There is no silver bullet for this which is very disappointing in many respects," Cr Fyffe said.
"So what we are doing is working with other organisations out in the community which are delivering outcomes so what we do have is a complete picture... and a community taking responsibility themselves."
Cr Cox says it is an issue that men create and that men must stop.
"We need thousands of men to stand against violence against women and children," he said.
Cr Campbell says everyone should take responsibility, to not turn a blind eye and to be aware of how to help prevent it.
UPDATE 7.47PM: Eaglehawk Community Facilities Audit and Needs Assessment up now.
Cr Cox says everyone in the western suburbs should have their say.
UPDATE 7.45PM: Things have quietened down in the chamber, with a few minor strategies up now. Only two people left in the gallery.
UPDATE 7.41PM: There will be a full investigation into the Rosalind Park recreational reserve carpark.
Cr Cox moved the motion, which was approved unanimously.
"I won't go into it but there has been some difference of opinion in legal, technmical and historical terms and we need this cleared up so we don't confuse it with the master plan."
UPDATE 7.40PM: Rosalind Park Master Plan released for comment in unanimous vote.
UPDATE 7.37PM: Cr Williams said the Rosalind Park Master Plan was not about the nitty gritty of where to put a car park - it was about painting a picture for the future.
He said plans will help bring the area back to a user-friendly park and allow for carparking and preservation of the park.
UPDATE 7.33PM: Cr Lisa Ruffell says while the tennis courts are a good location for a multi-storey carpark, the impact on the tennis centre must be considered before anything goes ahead.
"I want us to be very mindful that we have this beautiful park and we need to expand it back to its original glory," she said.
"We and previous councils haven't done that yet but now it's time to put that into perspective.
"It is a community issue and a lot of community members will comment. This is their park."
UPDATE 7.31PM: Cr Rod Fyffe says plans for Rosalind Park are exciting and now it's time to listen to the community.
UPDATE 7.15PM: Rosalind Park Master Plan up now. Document expected to be released for public comment.
"This will help both open up the park and provide greater access," Cr Williams said.
"There are controversial aspects, with much of carparking and sporting facilities to be removed.
"But residents must be assured that nothing of that nature will happen until we can accommodate those needs."
Our forefathers had a real vision for this area and we have let them down badly.
- Cr Cox
Cr Cox says the area is a landmark site and urged residents to have their say about the proposal.
"The reserve has been constantly plundered for other uses, including car parking and school bus drop offs and this is not what it is meant for," he said.
"Our forefathers had a real vision for this area and we have let them down badly.
"It is is this council, this time, that can make a change."
Cr Leach agreed there had been a gross injustice to the park by creating a larger surface area for car parking in the area.
She said councillors must now rectify that.
"Yes, I agree with the overall vision but the four to five year plan involves a lot of money and some of that involves taking out what has just been put in," she said.
UPDATE 7.14PM: Hospital precinct plan approved, with all by Cr Chapman in support.
UPDATE 7.05PM: While praising the future vision of council, Cr Cox says the hospital plan and Rosalind Park plan are vital but should be more integrated to allow for proper future planning.
"It's time the Rosalind Park Master Plan caught up because these plans need to work together," he said.
Most agree a wide-spanning plan for the hospital precinct will help development well into the future. Cr Campbell, Fyffe and Williams throw their support behind the vision.
"People need to be confident (these ideas) will materialise," Cr Campbell said.
UPDATE 7PM: Interesting meeting so far, with several audience members staying in the chambers for the ride.
Bendigo Hospital Precinct Structure Plan up now. Budget allocated was $250,000 for the 20-year plan.
Most councillors in support of the vision, but Cr Leach and Chapman share concerns about cost of plan, traffic and possibility of development taking away from CBD.
Many more council plans to come too: the Commercial Land and Activity Centre Strategy and the Eaglehawk Community Facilities Audit and Needs Assessment Report.
And the major one - the Rosalind Park Master Plan, which details a greener future for the popular site. There has been much debate on the plan already. I wonder how heated it will get tonight?
UPDATE 6.52PM: Councillors have voted against officer recommendations for a second time tonight, knocking back another significant development in the region.
More below.
UPDATE 6.50PM: Motion for the original sub-division in Kangaroo Flat is up now.
If approved, the subdivision planned for 340A High Street will feature fully serviced lots ranging from 300m2 and 941m2.
Cr Williams throws his support behind the development, but Cr Chapman argues strongly against the plan.
"It's a crusty piece of land. Shame, shame," she said.
Cr Campbell and Leach back her comments, saying the development should be refused due to vegetation concerns.
In his final push for support of the development, Cr Williams said "the crusty piece of land is a valuable one".
"Vegetation is always a concern but there are offsets that will help accommodate this," he said.
After much debate, the development in Kangaroo Flat is refused.
It's the second time councillors have voted against council officer recommendations tonight.
It's likely both developments will end up at the Victorian planning tribunal for further discussion.
UPDATE 6.46PM: Cr Campbell fights to have a bridge at a proposed subdivision in Kangaroo Flat.
"Can you imagine what that creek is going to look like if we let children scramble around the lake?" Cr Rod Campbell says.
"We won't be able to protect the vegetation."
Despite his plea, his motion is lost.
UPDATE 6.45PM: Much debate in the council chambers tonight, with councillors disagreeing on several planning matters.
Always good to see passion among our representatives.
UPDATE 6.40PM: Cr Campbell says a bridge should be built at the creek to provide easy access for future residents. He said the cost would be worth it in the long run.
"We will leave a legacy here if we go ahead with this," he said.
But Cr Williams said the costs would fall back on the council, not the developer.
"It sounds wonderful but it will impact on vegetation... and I have serious concerns about the precedent it will set by building this bridge," he said.
"I don't think it's appropriate to impose conditions on the development at this late stage without consulting the developer."
Cr Elise Chapman and Cr Ruffell support the alternate motion to build a crossing.
"It's about connecting our communities and thinking into the future," she said.
"It's thinking outside the box and providing active areas to promote well-being."
Cr Cox speaks against the development itself, stating concerns about vegetation and potential flooding.
"I don't think there is a considered view about the entire aspect of this project," he said.
Cr Leach votes against the development too, saying the flooding risks are "just too great".
UPDATE 6.35PM: Sub-division in Kangaroo Flat up now. Cr Rod Campbell shares concerns regarding the creek on the site.
If approved, the subdivision planned for 340A High Street will feature fully serviced lots ranging from 300m2 and 941m2.
The creek that traverses the site will be contained within a public open space reserve, with the lots arranged either side.
Some native vegetation will be removed at the site to make way for development.
Two objections were received regarding traffic concerns.
"Upon consideration (the objections) don’t justify rejecting or altering the proposal," the report states.
"Overall, the proposed subdivision complies with the Planning Scheme and it is recommended that a permit be granted."
It follows approval of a multi-storey development in Kangaroo Flat in April this year.
UPDATE 6.30PM: Controversial development at Ravenswood refused by councillors. All but two have concerns that the plans would encroach on farming in the area.
UPDATE 6.25PM: Looks like a proposal for group accommodation at a winery in Ravenswood could be knocked back by councillors.
Concerns about building six units in a farming zone.
In seconding a motion to reject the proposal, Cr Helen Leach said a dangerous precedent would be set in the area.
But Cr James Williams speaks in favour of the development, saying there were plenty of examples of similar developments throughout Bendigo.
"It's a difficult one and while I acknowledge concerns, I think it is reasonable to allow this to go ahead," he said.
In speaking against the motion, Councillor Rod Campobell said councillors needed to respect the fellow resident's right to farm in the area.
"Who knows what the impact might be? Potential noise late at night is a factor in my decision," he said.
UPDATE 6.20PM: Next item - a "controversial" development at a vineyard near Bendigo.
Councillor Rod Fyffe moves to refuse the proposal to build group accommodation in Ravenswood.
The application details construction of six dwellings and use of lands for group accommodation at Belvoir Park Road.
The application from Colin M. Nankervis Consulting Engineers is for land currently zoned farming and road zone 1, which includes a vineyard.
Despite five objections, council officers say the proposal is a suitable use in the chosen location.
But Cr Fyffe says the farming zone should be respected.
He understands nearby residents' concerns that it could impact agriculture in the area.
"If we look at land capability there, we might run into some problems," he said.
He said the proposal needs more work.
"We don't oppose tourism, we don't oppose development on this block - we just need to judge it on its merits," he said.
"I would be happy to consider this again if the applicant comes back with a revised proposal."
Cr Chapman said while she liked the concept, the proposal definitely had some setbacks.
"It's a great dream but why should (the neighbor's dream of farming) be impeded because of that?" she said.
"It would be good for tourism and is a great concept but's just too close to the fence for me."
UPDATE 6.16PM: Some small parcels of land will be rezoned to make way for adjustments in the areas.
The sites are Uley Street, small parts of land in Golden Square adjacent to the primary school and Golf Links Road, Maiden Gully.
UPDATE 6.15PM: Up next, some rezoning matters and then the Rosalind Park Master Plan and an update on the Bendigo Hospital redevelopment. A sub-division and group accommodation plan also on the agenda.
UPDATE 6.10PM: Cr Lisa Ruffell's report up now. "It's been a very busy month".
UPDATE 6.05PM: Hot topic: Kangaroo Flat Leisure Centre. Another resident comes to the stand to question the CEO's statement regarding an alternate plan for the construction of the $30 million centre.
He is part of a group of residents concerned about the City of Greater Bendigo's plans to demolish the current Kangaroo Flat leisure centre to make way for the new building
They went to a designer to have a new plan drawn up, which they say shows that both the current centre and new centre can fit on the same block.
CEO Craig Niemann says the alternate plans encroach on the current oval, but residents argue this is not true.
UPDATE 6.02PM: Residents still concerned about the Kangaroo Flat Leisure Centre. They believe the current centre should be saved. A man asks about council's commitment to provide a report on the proposed construction.
Chief executive Craig Niemann apologised it is yet to be completed. He says a community meeting has been organised for September 29 and a draft report is ready for approval.
UPDATE 6.01PM: Kennington resident queries the budgeted cost of drainage works in his street. Question taken on notice.
UPDATE 6PM: The City of Greater Bendigo council meeting is underway. Question time now. Let's see if any residents have any concerns they want to share...
George Flack, from Kennington, takes the stand.