Plan Greater Bendigo, a swag full of policy updates and how to implement a relatively new housing strategy will feature at the January 24 council meeting.
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Bendigo’s visionary plan
‘First of its kind’, ‘visionary’, ‘ahead of the curve’, are all phrases used to describe Plan Greater Bendigo, which lists transformational infrastructure projects required to cater for an expected population of 200,000 by 2050.
A reinvigorated city centre – including upgrades to the law courts, TAFE campus and Golden Dragon Museum – is at the heart of an ambitious 30-year plan.
The list, whittled down from 70 initial suggestions, now sits at 18, from which the council hopes to receive federal, state and private sector funding to realise some of the projects.
The shortlisted projects are:
- Marong Business Park
- Bendigo Airport – Business Precinct and Terminal
- Revitalise Bendigo TAFE
- Short term hostel/student accommodation in the city centre
- Coordinated program of new school development to meet growing demand
- Upgrade the rail track between Bendigo and Kyneton
- Connectivity for small towns and neighbouring regional centres
- Bendigo metro rail – continuing implementation
- Community hubs
- Dja Dja Wurrung corporate and community centre
- Bendigo Law Courts
- Bendigo Railway Station activity centre
- Bendigo ‘Gov Hub’ office co-location of government agencies
- Golden Dragon Museum/Bendigo Chinatown
- Reimagining the Bendigo Creek
- Better using our existing water resources
- Plan for a renewable energy future
- New waste management arrangements
Councillors will vote on whether to endorse this list on Wednesday evening.
Housing strategy: More diversity
The Greater Bendigo Housing Strategy (GBHS) was adopted in mid-2016 by the former council.
Its goal is to increase the focus on smaller lots to provide more diverse, affordable housing.
Councillors will assess how this strategy will be implemented at the meeting.
Axedale: Bushfire place of last resort
The rural community of Axedale has, for a number of years, been without a place of last resort during a bushfire.
Councillors will be asked to make Axedale Primary School oval, 81 High Street Axedale, that very place.
According to a report prepared for council, the oval was selected as the most suitable, being a watered green playing field with good access for parking and pedestrians.
The use of the site does not include any of the buildings or facilities and does not require any person/s to be present and people who choose to use the site will do so at their own risk.
Bendigo council will assist to maintain vegetation at the site (mowing) if required, such as during school holidays.
Policy, local law reviews
Councillors will assess a new pricing and waste charge policy, in addition to a draft community law review, which reevaluates penalty points given to individuals for inappropriate behaviour, such as the burning materials, use of vehicles, offensive behaviour and bees – yes, bees.
A detailed breakdown of penalty points is available below.
Full agenda Bendigo council meeting January 24
