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7.10pm: Before council can consider a new general museum in the law courts, it needs to have in place a policy regarding the collection and storage of historical artefacts.
Those were the thoughts of councillors, who voted to approve a report into the City of Greater Bendigo’s historical artefacts.
Cr Matt Emond pointed out that Bendigo was already home to a number of museums: the Golden Dragon Museum, Bendigo Pottery, Soldiers Memorial Institute and the upcoming Aspire Foundation precinct.
He said it was a myth that Bendigo did not have a museum, and it was a greater priority to have a policy to collect and store more than 45,000 artefacts.
“The museum is only the front end of the shop,” Cr Emond said.
“The art gallery only exhibits 5 per cent of its collection, the rest is in storage.”
The report was carried unanimously.
6.55pm: A draft place interpretation and naming policy has been approved, allowing the council to have a uniform policy when they receive requests for naming public spaces.
It comes after councillors found there was no uniform approach when council receives a request for a place naming.
Cr Andrea Metcalf supported the policy, and said it was a “surprise” that there was not a policy already.
But she said places should be named after volunteers, rather than people who have been paid by council for the job they do.
Cr Rod Fyffe said he would also prefer to see volunteers recognised more in the naming of public places in Bendigo.
6.40pm: Council will support a 137-lot staged subdivision at Bagshot, on Huntly’s eastern fringe, when the matter comes before VCAT next month.
Councillor Andrea Metcalf said the land had been deemed suitable for residential development in the Huntly Township Plan of 2009, and it could be near the location of a future Huntly railway station.
She said the failure to meet the 10-minute neighbourhood policy was just one aspect and it was unreasonable for greenfield developments to meet the policy straight away.
“I would expect the applicant to argue that the proposed development of Waratah Road would likely put the development within a 10-minute bike ride from the Huntly township,” Cr Metcalf said.
Cr James Williams agreed, and said there was “a lot to like about this”.
“Huntly has grown from being a little township to a suburb of Bendigo,” he said.
Cr Williams said services were able to meet the development of Bendigo’s fringe, citing the duplication of Napier Street and the completion of the new Bendigo hospital as being able to cater for future growth.
The matter was taken to VCAT after council took too long to make a decision.
6.35pm: Council has voted against granting a permit for a two-lot subdivision for a three-storey house on Hustlers Road near the Boundary Hotel.
6.25pm: One petition as well, with 271 signatures calling for a dog park for Heathcote.
Council will complete a report within two meetings analysing the idea.
Councillor Yvonne Wrigglesworth said it was pleasing to see a community showing initiative to improve its health and wellbeing.
There are more than 900 dogs registered in Heathcote.
6.15pm: Just one question sent in for tonight, regarding the possibility of future works for Holt Street.
The question asked whether footpaths or street lighting were likely in the future.
Mayor Margaret O’Rourke has read out a response, stating new footpaths and street lights were likely to be “low to medium” priority, and tree plantings could be planned.
A question from the floor was asked about issues with minutes from the last council meeting. According to standing orders, only one question can be asked per person. So the questioner was unable to ask about procurement, as planned, but he will receive a written response.
6pm – Welcome to the live blog of the City of Greater Bendigo council meeting for September, 2018.
A proposal for a 137-lot subdivision at Bagshot, on the edge of Huntly, is likely to attract plenty of debate with the plan not aligning with the council’s 10-minute neighbourhood policy.
The applicant has already taken the matter to VCAT because of the amount of time the council has taken to decide on the proposal. Councillors will decide tonight what position it takes at VCAT.
A new naming policy will also be voted on in an attempt to solve the “ad hoc” approach to additions to Bendigo’s public parks.
The future of several other housing proposals – including a three-storey house near central Bendigo – will be determined during the meeting.
Councillors will consider a report into maintaining the city’s estimated 45,000 historical artefacts kept in storage by local historical societies.
Full council agenda for September 2018:
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