BendigoWeekly www.bendigoweekly.com.au
ISSUE 1043 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2017
Trams in Mo-tion BENDIGO’S heritage trams are taking the Movember challenge and will be decked out with some magnificent moustaches to raise awareness about men’s health issues. “With a predominately male workforce, men’s health is important to us at Bendigo Tramways,” Bendigo Tramways manager Luke Jenkins said.
“All of Bendigo’s heritage trams will be sporting some magnificent mo’s throughout Movember and we are encouraging everyone to have their photo taken with one of our trams and post it on Facebook or Instagram.” You can support their efforts by making a donation at www.moteam.co/ bendigo‐tramways.
FULL HOUSE By SHARON KEMP
BENDIGO’s deliberate move towards higher density housing took a major step forward this week when an independent panel recommended the cap on housing be lifted at Lansell Crest. The move clears the way for a 104-residence proposal on 2.6 hectares in Bendigo East. City of Greater Bendigo council referred the decision to the panel after a proposal to lift the cap, fully supported by the council, drew more than 100 objections, many from residents living close by.
MAIN MAN: Bryan Lewis has shaved off his beard. Photo: ANDREW PERRYMAN
Thumbs up for high-density housing
Birchgrove Properties is behind the proposed Lansell Crest development but council earmarked the land as a key development site for the medium-density housing – the first in the city – and the developer has created plans based on council’s intention for the site. The Planning Panels Victoria report resoundingly agreed with the vision of the council, calling a cap on the number of residences un-
necessary even while agreeing with opponents that the character of the development will be different from the surrounding area. “While development on the site will need to be responsive to existing residential development in the area, the panel and advisory committee agrees with council that it need not replicate the perceived character of the area,” the panel determined. “Achieving the higher densities
promoted in the Greater Bendigo Residential Strategy and the Municipal Strategic Statement presents some design challenges, but none warrant the retention of the 65-dwelling cap and certainly not a reduction in the cap as sought by some submitters.” Opposition to the development included that there would be overcrowding, congestion and increased noise, inadequate private spaces, a
lack of trees, increased crime and traffic. The panel was formed to make a decision on the cap, but it also considered Birchgrove’s development plans in relation to the concerns on residents opposed to Lansell Crest. Its plans include apartments of various size and price, blocks curving around two common open spaces. The panel dismissed as unsubstantiated and irrelevant objections relating to “crime, obesity, property values, environmental impacts and social and ethnic ‘concentrations’”.
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■ Synthetic drugs banned – Editorial Page 21 ■ 60-page Property Guide inside