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From up above, it’s easy to understand why Bendigo is described as a city in the forest.
Mayor Margaret O’Rourke was treated to a different perspective of the municipality, as the airport and its users celebrated the city’s newly commissioned 1600 metre long runway on Wednesday.
Sitting beside pilot Colin Hokin of Bendigo Flying Club, she reflected on the city’s past and its projected growth.
For 20 years, the community has been rallying for upgrades to the airport.
In that time, new houses have sprung up and pushed the city’s borders further and further into areas once chequered by paddocks.
New rooftops gleamed in the summer sun as the plane flew over the city.
But, with the city’s population projected to double by about 2050, Cr O’Rourke expected there would be more new homes dotting the landscape before long.
Regardless of the growth, she said Bendigo would always be amongst forests.
As the plane soared above the Huntly area, Whipstick, Woodvale, Myers Flat, Leichardt, Marong and Maiden Gully, the terrain below seemed a straw-coloured patchwork fringed by emerald green.
From outside the pilot’s window, the mayor spotted the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion – a white speck surrounded by vegetation.
Mr Hokin pointed out past mining sites, and the evaporation ponds.
On the way back into the airport, the mayor spotted Lake Weeroona.
Behind the plane trailed a procession of other planes, of different shapes and sizes.
The mayor’s flight took a wide birth to make space for all those taking off, and was a while before all the planes were back on the ground.
After expertly landing the plane, Mr Hokin thanked Cr O’Rourke for accompanying him.
He had never piloted for the mayor before, he said.