The City of Greater Bendigo has created a state election wishlist, by formally highlighting projects it wishes to see supported by both levels of government and the private sector.
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A number of the projects – the Government Hub, new law courts, city centre development and the Golden Dragon Museum expansion – have already be well publicised, but the dollar contributions the city has sought were revealed on Wednesday.
With Bendigonians heading to the polls in November 2018, the council is looking to secure funding for projects it believes are vital to the city’s development.
Public-private partnerships sector to finance Gov Hub
Estimated to cost $100 million, a new centre to house decentralised Victorian and Australian government agencies would be predominantly financed by public private partnerships ($80-100 million).
The state government have been asked to contribute $7 million for the fit out of the facility, in addition to the $1m the government allocated to developing the proposal in their 2017-18 budget.
Law courts ‘not large enough’
The current law courts, according to Bendigo council, are not large enough, unsafe for family law matters and are enveloped in occupational health and safety compliance issues.
Others have argued that the courts are unsafe for any matter, with an urgent fix required.
In March, four bullets were found in a toilet cubicle in the Bendigo Magistrates’ Court, which followed the discovery of a knife in the toilets outside a court used for a Supreme Court trial in Bendigo in the same week.
It is still unclear whether the existing courts will be redeveloped or relocated, but the price tag is more obvious – $120 million, all of which will be funded by the state government, in an ideal world for council.
Golden Dragon Museum vital part of city
Expanding the The Golden Dragon Museum – a renowned tourist attraction in Bendigo that houses a superb Chinese collection of antiquities that are rarely seen outside of China – would involve developing a dedicated Chinese cultural centre, according to Bendigo council.
The cost? $16million, $10 of which would come from the state government, $5m from federal coffers, and just $1m from council.
Airport terminal
What comes first? A commercial carrier at Bendigo airport or a terminal?
Council has been in ‘negotiations’ with regional airlines for more than a year, but no agreement appears to have been reached as of yet.
The newly developed airport was officially re-opened in May, and according to the council’s wishlist, an extra $10 million is required to create a new terminal building and utilities extension.
Council will contribute $1m, with the remaining $9m to be equally split between state and federal governments.
Bendigo Health towers removal
One of the final pieces of the $630 million Bendigo Hospital redevelopment is the proposed relocation of a substantial array of ambulatory rehabilitation services, dental services and support services from the north and east towers – near the Anne Caudle Centre – to the former hospital site where an Ambulatory Care Centre of Excellence will be developed.
The new link bridge over Arnold Street will allow interaction between the new hospital and the Ambulatory Care Centre of Excellence.
However, it’s not cheap, the total project will cost $52 million, which the council hopes will be equally funded by the state and federal governments.
Solar gains
To reach its target of zero emissions and 100 per cent renewable energy within the municipality, the council is looking at contaminated land that would traditionally have no other use.
The old White Hills landfill site fits that bill, with plans for a two to four megawatt solar park being considered.
According to council, the state government would have to provide $5 million for the project, which the council would own and operate.
The council is also urging the government to open up other land sites not suitable for commercial or residential use, which could potentially be used for solar energy generation.
City of Greater Bendigo priority projects brochure
