Council considers new draft Bendigo city centre plan to manage growth
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A new Draft Bendigo City Centre Plan, which includes a Parking Futures Action Plan, will be considered at next week’s Council meeting.
The plan has been developed to provide a vision and clear direction to manage the growth of the city centre as it continues to strengthen its role as an important mixed-use centre and tourism destination.
Acting Director Strategy and Growth Trevor Budge said Bendigo city centre was evolving and a clear approach was needed to respond to future needs.
“Bendigo is a city that is continuing to grow and thrive. This new plan is an update of the Bendigo CBD Plan 2005 and guides new development that embraces the centre’s valued rich heritage and culture, while promoting new contemporary buildings that are needed to meet the needs of a 21st century city,” Mr Budge said.
The draft plan recommends design guidelines that can be incorporated into the Planning Scheme such as height, bulk, scale and setbacks.
“The current planning controls need to be clearer, less complex and more responsive to allow for a well-designed compact city to flourish.
“The redevelopment of part of Bendigo TAFE, the new law courts and GovHub are all large scale projects that will be happening in the city centre. Buildings of this scale need to have high architectural quality to ensure they do not detract from the desired future character of a compact, high amenity, pedestrian friendly, mixed use city.
“The city centre is generally a pedestrian friendly city that has been enhanced with the introduction of the 40kph speed limit, the upgrade of footpaths and new pedestrian crossings. We want to make the city as accessible as possible and that means continuing to support various modes of activity such as walking, cycling, trains and buses and the right amount of parking to support anticipated growth.”
A Parking Futures Action Plan is also part of the Draft Bendigo City Centre Plan to provide a holistic approach.
“The location and management of parking can have a significant influence on design solutions for buildings. Bringing the two elements together provides a simplified integrated approach.”
The proposed parking action plan includes completing investigations into the construction of a new mixed-use multi-deck car park in Market Street precinct.