City of Greater Bendigo councillors voted unanimously to submit a report regarding the future of the site of the Goldfields' first school.
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The state government intends to amend a planning scheme affecting the former Golden Square Primary School in Laurel Street.
Council officers recommended councillors support making a submission regarding amendment to the Government Land Standing Advisory Committee.
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The recommendation would also allow for council officers to present at any future Directions Hearing or Public Hearing on behalf of Council's submission.
Councillor Andrea Metcalfe said the site has been identified for high density housing with house heights to range from nine metres to 13.5 metres.
"This is a really important site given closeness to the Golden Square commercial site and council need to be at the planning table to ensure any planning is consistent with the strategic work council has undertaken," she said.
"The former school building has heritage overlay and it is good to see (the site will be) reused in some way for the community."
Cr Metcalfe said the overlays may change but the historic school building and peppercorn tree will be protected.
Councillor Dave Fagg said the Government Land Standing Advisory Committee appointed for site would fast track the planning scheme amendment process.
"Council does not have planning authority but it can prepare a submission that will be considered along other submissions from the community," he said.
"I am keen for council to put forward a submission. I commend the proposal for the housing development, community use of the heritage-listed buildings as well as the public open space for the community.
"I would emphasise any development be keenly aware of the surrounding buildings. There are several heritage buildings in that area."
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Councillor Margaret O'Rourke said a considerable amount of work had been done by council in the Golden Square area in terms of research, development and understanding of what they would like to see the suburb look like.
"Local government's role is about placemaking and that role can be taken away from us," she said. "Because this is a state-owned site, this recommendation allows us to put our views forward on what we think is good for our community in Greater Bendigo and Golden Square."
Councillor Rod Fyffe stressed that council need to be at the planning table for such a significant site.
"We do need to be at table, we need to be forceful and in partnership with the community -which we are from my understanding in talking to people in Golden Square," he said.
"We do need to treat this site with sensitivity and I hope the state government does so in turn.
"It is very significant in so far of the heritage and beginnings of Bendigo. It was the very first school in the Goldfields and it has a lot of history - relevant history - that needs to be preserved and also retold.
"So we need to be there talking to state government."
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