MAYOR’S COLUMN – LONG TERM PLANNING IS IMPORTANT
It’s no secret Bendigo is constantly evolving. A modest population of roughly 15,000 during the gold
rush has expanded to more than 100,000 people and today Bendigo is a thriving regional centre.
It’s little wonder then that our city is growing at a rate of nearly 2000 people per year, so now is not
the time to stand still and expect what has been planned for and built to date will meet residents
needs into the future.
If we are guided by current demographic trends, we know the average age of Bendigonians will
continue to increase and the number of persons per household will decrease. Those two factors
alone have significant implications for future planning.
In the past, housing stock has been largely built on the pretext that most households consist of two
adults and two or three kids, already this is not always the case and the demand for smaller
properties to house one or two people will increase. In general, inner city living is forecast to grow in
popularity, we will have to think about how old buildings can be given a new lease of life and identify
infill opportunities.
The scale and impact of the new Bendigo Hospital is only just starting to be realised. In the short
term those working on the project will be looking for accommodation, in the longer term there will
be more people working at the hospital who will want to live near the hospital.
In the past we have tended to look at the central business district and the hospital as two different
precincts. However with the growth of both of these areas , including the construction of the new
Ulumbarra Theatre and major extensions to the Art Gallery, the importance of planning for the
whole of Rosalind Park, which adjoins these precincts and facilities, is now more urgent .
Planning for this whole area in the context of a city that will increase its population by at
least another 25,000 people by 2030 presents an immense set of challenges and underpins why
Council is preparing a Hospital Precinct Structure Plan and a Rosalind Park Masterplan.
Planning for growth is why the City is also undertaking a Bendigo Residential Strategy and the
Integrated Transport and Land Use Strategy – Connecting Greater Bendigo. These two major projects
will set the framework for how and where Bendigo grows for the next generation.
Currently, major growth is taking place in the Epsom Huntly corridor at Strathfieldsaye and Maiden
Gully. We need forward planning for these areas. The Residential Strategy will identify a number of
sites in the existing urban area where land has been overlooked and we can support different forms
of housing to cater for changing household needs.
Connecting Greater Bendigo is examining how we provide a better range of transport options, more
frequent bus services, cycling and walking options and how we better link our residential areas
across the whole city including towns like Heathcote and Elmore and our rural areas. Consolidating
our major employment and retail places makes it easier to provide better connections and ensure
that the vital road works are also prioritised.
Planning for Bendigo’s future is exciting but immensely challenging. Getting the package of plans and
actions in place for delivery and implementation is one of Council’s key tasks. When you’re next
asked your thoughts on a strategy or plan for the city, take a moment to pass them on as the plan
will contribute to Bendigo’s overall liveability in years to come.