THE streetscape works of the $3.8 million plan to ease the bus chaos in Mitchell Street will begin at the end of the month. In April 2008, the Bendigo Weekly revealed every CBD bus was to travel down Mitchell St. It caused anger from traders, some who left, and chaos on the footpath at peak times. The streetscape redevelopment, which includes drainage works and widening of the footpaths, will begin on September 29. The $3m works are the first step in the process, which also includes building a bus shelter at the Mitchell St end of Hargreaves Mall, and implementing real-time timetabling. The timetabling will allow people to wait at the shelter and then move to the bus stop when their bus is imminent. The streetscape works also include the narrowing of the Hargreaves St intersection, filling in the currently unused space. Three bus stops, between Dymocks and Sussans, will be temporarily relocated on September 29, with works to start the following week. The community will still be able to access shops while traffic will be reduced to one lane on Mitchell St in each direction. Greater Bendigo council Presentation and Assets director Darren Fuzzard said the redevelopment would cause some disruption. “While we are working hard to minimise this, the reality is that projects of this scale cannot happen without having an impact,” he said. “We have consulted with traders and will keep them fully informed on how works are progressing and the types of impacts they can expect week-to-week. “We have leased a site office at 34 Mitchell St and traders are encouraged to visit there if they have any concerns.” Not one objection was received to the plan. The project will be sectioned in three, Pall Mall to Hargreaves St, Hargreaves St and Mitchell St intersection and Hargreaves St to Queen Street. Stage one will start at in Mitchell St, towards Pall Mall, with all pedestrian areas to be completed by December 1. “We have listened to traders and others and no work will occur between December 1, 2013 and January 27, 2014,” Mr Fuzzard said. Mayor Lisa Ruffell said the project will improve the busy thoroughfare. “Mitchell St is worn out and in desperate need of a complete road re-construction between Pall Mall and Queen St,” she said. “The road pavement will be completely re-built, new underground drainage and services installed and footpaths widened where possible, paved and reconstructed.” BENDIGO’S residential Strategy will be reviewed because of greater than expected growth. The State Government has announced a grant of $50,000 to carry out the review. The review is needed because, according to the State Government, 40 per cent of the forecast growth between 2006 and 2031 had already been realised. Regional Development Parliamentary Secretary Damian Drum made the announcement this morning. Mr Drum said the Bendigo Residential Strategy Review would deliver greater community and investor certainty, helping the region grow. “The Bendigo Residential Development Strategy was adopted in 2004 and is currently being audited because of the faster than anticipated growth that has occurred in Bendigo in recent years,” he said. “Strong residential growth has many flow-on economic benefits and having a clear framework for future development will position Greater Bendigo City Council to undertake more detailed, place-based planning in the future.” Deputy Premier Peter Ryan said about 40 per cent of the forecast growth between 2006 and 2031 had already been realised. The Residential Strategy impacts directly on where and how property developments use “infill” parcels of land, range of housing styles and also on housing affordability. “This project will review the strategy, assess current and estimated land supply and demand and consider various legislative and policy changes,” Mr Ryan said, “It will also consider the latest demographic data and establish a new strategic framework to guide the long-term residential growth of Greater Bendigo. “The project will result in a revised residential strategy that will give developers, the community and service providers greater surety and confidence about where land can be developed for residential purposes, and that sufficient land is available to accommodate the City of Greater Bendigo’s future growth.” Mr Ryan said a contemporary strategic planning framework was essential to the economic development of a large regional centre like Bendigo. “Clearly identifying future growth options and supporting infrastructure needs will enable the Greater Bendigo City Council and other infrastructure providers to plan their capital works programs well in advance,” he said. “Identifying long-term growth areas will enable the council and other service authorities to start planning for the delivery of services, thereby minimising the lag time between when residential development occurs and when the services need to be in place.” Comments
Posted on: Fri, 20 Sep 2013 00:33:13 +0000
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