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7.30pm Councillors have endorsed the first draft of a plan that will aim to provide for Marong’s population, which is expected to swell to 8000 in 25-30 years. 

7.20pm Councillors have voted to release a draft report of the Plan Greater Bendigo – a report detailing 70 infrastructure projects required to support an estimated population of 200,000 in Greater Bendigo by 2050.

Deputy Mayor Rod Fyffe said the document represented “exciting times” for the community. 

“This is really exciting. This is something that will really give this community an edge,” Cr Fyffe said.  

“It (Plan Greater Bendigo) will impact peoples’ children and peoples’ grandchildren.” 

Cr Fyffe urged the community to provide their feedback to the proposal, which he said was an initiative of the state government. 

Ratepayers will have six weeks, until April 28, to provide their initial input to proposals in the plan. 

Councillor Jennifer Alden said the plan was “visionary”. 

And mayor Margaret O’Rourke said a number of councils across Victoria had the opportunity to plan their future but “not like this”. 

You can provide your feedback to the plan’s proposal on the Bendigo Advertiser’s survey below. 

7pm  Councillors have approved the planning application for a special needs child care centre in Kennington.

Commenting on the proposal, councillor Yvonne Wrigglesworth said she appreciated the traffic concerns of the eight objectors to the proposal, but was satisfied with the independent engineering report, which stated The Terrace had the capacity to deal with increased traffic flow.  

“The centre is great thing for Kennington,” Cr Wrigglesworth said. 

Story: Report supports special needs child care centre in Bendigo

6.30pm Responding to a question from the public gallery about itinerant beggars, and what is an acceptable level of begging, Cr O’Rourke said people should call the police.

‘I’ve had a meeting with VicPol about this. It is a summary offense. VicPol will start to charge people and move people on,” Cr O’Rourke said.   

6.20pm Mayor Margaret O’Rourke said the “thoughtful” report by the citizen’s jury, published in October, would “help shape our municipality in the future”.

Council gave its official written response to the jury’s report this evening. 

6pm Welcome to our live blog of the City of Greater Bendigo council meeting. Plenty to discuss tonight, not least a draft Greater Bendigo plan outlining how the city will look by 2050.