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THIS is really going to annoy a few people but I just want to point out a few really nice things about Bendigo. (Oi, put that pen down and please read to the bottom.)
The City of Greater Bendigo is polling newcomers to our part of Heaven, asking them why they came here and if their expectations had been met.
A snapshot of the results so far was: Why did people move here: - Employment 58 per cent, Lifestyle - 44.3 per cent, Family - 36.2 per cent.
More than 85 per cent said their expectations had been met and 80 per cent said they’d recommend others move here.
You know what? I’m not surprised.
In one way or another, I’ve been involved in how Bendigo works, looks and feels for almost 30 years and it’s all because back in the mid-80s, I was seduced by this place and now it’s so seductive it should have an R-rating. For Ridiculously Good.
None of the attractiveness of Bendigo happened by accident.
When people flocked here for gold, it wasn’t an accident. When people such as Vahland gave this city a stylish make-over which lasts to this day, it wasn’t an accident.
When we developed one of the greatest regional art museums in the world, built The Capital, built the Ulumbarra, built a world-class hospital, developed parks the envy of most cities, managed our traffic better than most, created the Bendigo Bank, built international standard education facilities etc etc etc... none of this was by accident.
Yet, I would not be surprised to find that each of these milestones – and many more – were strongly and stridently opposed by those who argued it was the end of civilisation as we know it. Perhaps, in hindsight, we need that stream of blunt and often misinformed criticism to keep us focused on how to keep improving.
Years ago, I did a stint on council (yes, yes, I know, but the scars are sort of healed now) and one of the concepts I carry with me from that time is that the best thing anyone can do in a town or city is to create a nice place. It sounds easy, but it’s not. You have to understand how people behave and what they look for in their neighbourhoods and their communities.
If you’re careful, and somewhat lucky, you get to live in a space which other people admire and want to share. If you build it, they will come.
Now, here’s the bit some folk will get all edgy about. Based on that survey, and projected population growth, and massive investment in Bendigo, I reckon councillors and council executive staff have got it pretty right for most of the past three decades.
(No correspondence will be opened. Thank you.)