GB Magazine September 2015

Greater Bendigo 

September 2015 

Destination 

Heathcote 

inside 

Trial to shape new 

organics service 

page 6-7 

page 20 

Subscribe to our weekly e-newsletter for your chance to win a family pass to see Circa’s Beyond at Ulumbarra Theatre - page 2 

Explore Greater Bendigo.... 

by foot....by bike.... 

page 16-17 

Implementing the Integrated 

Transport and Land Use Strategy 

page 27-29 

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4 Listening to our rural communities 

Restoring Vahland’s Bendigo 

5 Chat with Customer Support staff online 

6 Trial to shape new organics service 

8 What’s in the works? 

10 2015/2016 Budget to improve liveability 

13 New grants program benefits community 

We’ve got you covered 

14 Family matters 

Immunisation protects us 

15 Register a sausage sizzle for a fundraiser 

Tripping hazards reduced in Mall 

Issues next door? Talk to your neighbour 

16 Explore Greater Bendigo….by foot…. 

by bike…. 

18 Discover the O’Keefe Rail Trail - there’s lots 

to see and do! 

20 Destination Heathcote: it’s a long way from 

one end of town to the other 

21 City saves with energy upgrades 

Power bills down at Lyttleton Terrace 

offices 

Big savings for Multi-Storey Car Park 

22 Incentive to protect bushland 

Work underway on new Environment 

Strategy 

23 Nest box installed to attract Powerful Owls 

Now is the time to prepare for the summer 

24-26 Ward news 

Whipstick Ward - Safeguarding our 

heritage assets 

Lockwood Ward - Go Bulldogs! 

Eppalock Ward - Diversity in Eppalock Ward 

27-29 Implementing the Integrated Transport 

and Land Use Strategy 

Council adopts plan to encourage healthy 

living and cut traffic congestion 

By Cr Peter Cox, 

Mayor 

During the gold rush 

Australia’s wealth 

was generated 

in Bendigo and 

the town was 

instrumental in 

providing economic wellbeing throughout 

the continent. 

Although the gold rush ended more than a 

century ago, it has left a lasting impression 

on our city, particularly our streetscapes. 

As Bendigo was the richest city in the world 

at one point, successful miners used their 

wealth to develop beautiful buildings that 

have stood the test of time. 

Several of these buildings, both 

commercial and residential, were designed 

by architect William Charles Vahland. 

A stroll through the CBD will find many 

of Vahland’s most iconic designs – the 

Bendigo Town Hall, the Capital Theatre 

(formerly the Masonic Hall and Temple), 

the Bendigo Art Gallery (formerly the 

Volunteer Rifles’ Orderly Room) and the 

Rifle Brigade Hotel. 

Vahland did not limit himself just to 

buildings, he also designed water features. 

His most famous in Bendigo would be 

the Alexandra Fountain, followed by the 

Cascades in Rosalind Park. 

But there’s one missing. A drinking 

fountain, once used by horses, dogs and 

people, stood at the junction of Bridge 

Street and Pall Mall from 1881 to 1906 

before it was dismantled and kept in 

storage. Occasionally parts of the granite 

structure have been repurposed – the 

central obelisk once sat in the middle of a 

roundabout on Williamson Street, while 

some of the basins were at the Botanic 

Gardens and acted as water troughs for 

wildlife – but many of the decorative 

elements are either broken or lost. 

July 21 marked 100 years since Vahland’s 

death, so to commemorate the anniversary 

the City of Greater Bendigo, together with 

the Bendigo Bank and the National Trust of 

Australia (Victoria and Bendigo branches) 

and the German Heritage Society, is calling 

for donations to restore the fountain. 

It is estimated the project will cost $250,000 

and already $120,000 has been raised, 

including $25,000 from the City, $25,000 

from the Frances and Harold Abbott 

Foundation and $20,000 from the German 

Heritage Society. Keech Australia has 

announced the Keech Family will donate 

up to $50,000 in design, engineering and 

casting of new steel components needed 

for the fountain, while engineering firm 

Howard Osborne is already assisting with 

a range of in-kind work associated with its 

installation. 

Members of the public can make a tax 

free donation at any one of the nine local 

Bendigo Bank branches. 

For those of you who are technologically 

savvy and want to learn more about 

the restoration project, there’s an app 

called ‘Vahland’s Bendigo’. It uses beacon 

technology to guide users to the end of Bull 

Street, where the fountain will eventually 

be placed between the Law Courts and the 

Conservatory Gardens, and features current 

and past photos. 

It’s believed the City is the first Local 

Government in Victoria to use beacon 

technology to celebrate its heritage 

buildings and their significance. 

The app also features an interactive map, 

photographs and drawings of some of 

Vahland’s most celebrated civic and 

commercial designs throughout our CBD. 

The free app is available for iPad and 

iPhone. Search ‘Vahland’s Bendigo’ in the 

App Store. 

Below: Drinking Fountain c1906. 

Image courtesy of State Library of Victoria. 

All aboard - new Strathfiedlsaye bus 

service 

My local neighbourhood 

A schools guide to increasing walking and 

cycling 

WIN WIN WIN 

30 Taste of Olympics with Rugby Sevens 

tournament 

Settling the score 

31 Businesses benefit from accreditation 

program 

32 What’s on? 

On the cover: 

Your Councillors 

Friends meet up at Sanguine 

Estate Wines, Heathcote. 

Greater Bendigo Magazine 

is printed on Australian 

recycled paper. 

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2 


www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/gbmagazine

Major events bring benefits to Greater Bendigo 

Major sporting and other events attracted 

by the City’s Major Events Unit are injecting 

millions of dollars into the local economy. 

City Major Events Manager, Terry 

Karamaloudis, said major events are lucrative 

for Bendigo and in the last financial year the 

City supported 91 events that attracted an 

impressive 143,600 participants - 11 more 

events and 11,000 more participants than the 

previous financial year. 

“Many of these people would simply not have 

come to enjoy our beautiful city if it were 

not for the specific event they attended or 

participated in,” Terry said. 

“The economic impact of major events can 

be difficult to determine. Australian Tourism 

Research data indicates that sporting tourists 

spend $230 per day when they stay in a city, 

while the REMPLAN economic modelling 

data that the City uses estimates that overnight 

visitors in our city spend around $150 

per person. 

“Either way, attracting 143,600 visitors to 

Bendigo for major events alone results in a 

significant boost for our local economy.” 

The REMPLAN model indicates more than 

$24M was injected into our local economy 

as a result of City-supported events in the 

2014/2015 financial year. 

“This money goes directly into Bendigo’s 

economy via accommodation bookings, 

consumption at restaurants, cafes, bars 

and retail purchases like petrol and other 

incidental items,” Terry said. 

“It’s even more significant when you 

consider that most sporting events are two 

day events or longer. An example of this 

was the Basketball Victoria Country U12 

Championships in March, which attracted 900 

participants over three days of competition. 

“Interestingly, this figure doesn’t include the 

parents or guardians who accompanied the 

junior athletes to the championships making 

the value of these events far greater than 

what we can conservatively estimate. 

“As well as being great news for our local 

economy, events such as these showcase our 

excellent facilities, often involve passionate 

community groups or sporting clubs and 

engage volunteers to help with a range of roles 

that are essential to running a successful event. 

“The events also help boost ‘Brand Bendigo’ 

and the city is continually seen as an exciting 

and attractive place to live and visit.” 

Since 2013 local businesses All Seasons 

Bendigo, SASI Marketing, Quest Bendigo 

and Bendigo Central, Share Media, The Zone 

Entertainment Complex, Tweed Sutherland 

First National, Birchgrove Property, McKern 

Foundation, Bendigo Party Hire, Park Lane 

Holiday Park, Power AV, Bendigo Advertiser 

and Gold Central Victoria have been 

supporting the City’s ongoing efforts to 

attract major sporting events to our region 

through a specially designed Major Sporting 

Events Partnership Program. 

WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN 

Win a family pass to see Circa’s Beyond at 

Ulumbarra Theatre on Thursday October 8 

Beyond is breathtaking, surreal and 

unexpectedly moving. Blending 

dynamic circus acts like trapeze, 

Chinese pole, cheeky feats of strength, 

Rubik’s Cubes and blindfolds, this 

genre-bending creation is a comical 

take on the possibilities of the human 

body pushed to the extreme. 

Beyond will stimulate the mind, the 

soul and also tickle the funny bone. 

HOW TO ENTER: 

To win one of four family 

passes simply subscribe to our 

weekly e-newsletter by Sunday 

September 27 at www.bendigo. 

vic.gov.au/gbnewsupdate 

It’s a great way to know what’s 

happening in Greater Bendigo. 

Terms and conditions: Tickets are non transferable and are only available for Circa’s Beyond on 08/10/15 at 8pm. Tickets can be collected from the Box Office at The Capital prior to the event or at the Box Office at Ulumbarra Theatre 

one hour before the performance. A family pass ticket includes 2 adults + 2 children and is valued at $118. Winners will be drawn randomly on 28/09/15 and will be notified by email. Names will also be published in the 5/10/15 e-newsletter. 

Greater Bendigo www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/gbmagazine 3

Listening to our rural communities 

By Craig Niemann, Chief Executive Officer 

Strong and successful rural communities 

are essential. Growing up in Yarrawalla, near 

Mitamo, on a dairy farm, I played sport for the 

local teams and milked cows for mum and 

dad and the neighbours. 

The long-term success and implementation 

of the Strategy will depend on hearing from 

all people who live in our rural communities. 

To find our more visit www.bendigo.vic.gov. 

au/ruralcommunitiesstrategy 

I enjoyed being part of a close-knit and 

supportive community but the issues and 

opportunities rural communities face can be 

vast and long reaching. 

That is why the City is developing a Rural 

Communities Strategy. 

Seventy per cent of the municipality is 

considered rural and it is the people in 

these communities that can give a true 

indication of what is happening socially, 

environmentally, economically and culturally. 

Our rural communities are diverse and 

include people living in small townships, on 

smaller acreage and commercial farms. 

Following the release of the Rural 

Communities Discussion Paper, City staff are 

in the process of developing a draft Strategy 

for public comment. 

“I encourage others to take the 

time to have a ride along this trail 

for all or part of it from Bendigo 

to Heathcote” 

Meanwhile, several City officers and I recently 

had the opportunity to ride the O’Keefe Rail 

Trail from Heathcote to Axedale (pictured). 

This new section of the trail has recently been 

completed and I experienced first-hand the 

good surface of the track, the many bridge 

structures and crossings and the alignment 

of the track through the townships, into State 

Parks and through farm land. 

For someone who has not ridden for a long 

time, the 27.5km ride was a relatively easy 

one with not too many hills. And we did stop 

and inspect a number of structures and rest 

stops along the way, including the longest 

bridge which crosses the Mount Ida Creek 

and the edge of Lake Eppalock. 

The trail was built during the past three 

years with funding support from Regional 

Development Victoria and the City. 

I encourage others to take the time to have 

a ride along this trail for all or part of it from 

Bendigo to Heathcote. Find out more about 

the O’Keefe Rail Trail on page 18-19. 

List your event with My Community Connect 

The City of Greater Bendigo has partnered 

with Southern Cross Austereo to provide 

community groups, not-for-profit 

organisations, charities and sports clubs 

the chance to promote their events for 

free through the regional program My 

Community Connect. 

My Community Connect is a multi-media 

community platform offering advertising 

to regional Australia through television, 

radio and online. 

No longer do you have to rely on a range 

of separate sources for event information. 

Browse through hundreds of events on 

the localised online calendars to find out 

what’s happening in your local area or the 

region. Become a member and submit 

your event so everyone can see it. 

List your event today or find out 

what’s happening in your area 

www.mycommunityconnect.com.au 

4 



Chat with Customer Support staff online 

There is a new way for residents to reach the 

City’s Customer Support staff. 

‘Webchat’ is an instant messaging service 

located on the City’s website and is available 

from 8.30am – 4.45pm Monday to Friday. 

“Customers that have used 

webchat have embraced the 

new technology, saying they 

love our new approach and 

the service it provides” 

A ‘Chat with customer support’ window 

will pop up automatically with a little 

information icon. Simply click the ‘+’ button to 

communicate with a staff member. 

City Customer Support Manager, Debbie 

Thewlis, said customer feedback to date has 

been very positive. 

“Webchat was introduced to provide the 

community with a timely and convenient way 

of reaching us,” Debbie said. 

“Customers that have used webchat have 

embraced the new technology, saying they 

love our new approach and the service it 

provides. 

“The City will be trialling the technology over 

the next six months and our staff look forward 

to using this new and efficient way of helping 

our customers.” 

Q&A 

Most frequently asked Customer Support questions 

What day is my garbage and/or 

recycling bin emptied? 

Visit the City’s website and click on the 

Community Compass tile, type in your 

address and expand the waste and 

recycling option on the right hand side 

of the screen. Alternatively, contact the 

Customer Support Team by phone, email 

or webchat. 

I need to change my postal address, 

how can I do this? 

Your change of address request needs 

to be in writing. You can log your change 

of address online at www.bendigo.vic. 

gov.au/requests You can also contact the 


or webchat and a staff member can 

arrange to post the change of address 

form to you. 

How do I report a barking dog? 

You can report a barking dog online 

at www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/animals 

Alternatively, you can contact our 

Customer Support Team by phone, 

email or webchat and a staff member 

can log a barking complaint for you that 

will then be investigated by our Animal 

Management Team. 

When are my rates due and how can 

I pay them? 

Please refer to our website for 

information on rates, including when 

they are due, payment options, reminder 

services available, pension concessions 

etc. at www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/rates 



or webchat. 

How do I order bins for my newly 

built house? 

This can be arranged when your 

Certificate of Occupancy has been issued. 

Once you have your certificate you can 

then order your bins online at 

www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/requests or 

contact the Customer Support Team by 

phone, email or webchat. 

Where can I find a room/hall to hire? 

You can refer to the Community Directory 

online at www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/ 

communitydirectory 

How do I request some maintenance 

to be carried out? e.g. storm water 

pit cleared, road to be graded, 

gutter to be swept, tree to be 

pruned etc. 

You can log a maintenance request 

online at www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/ 

requests 



or webchat to log your maintenance 

request. 

How do I report a wandering dog or 

cat I have found? 

If you have the dog/cat contained you 

can contact our Customer Support Team 

or our After Hours Officers on 5434 6000 

to discuss arranging collection/options 

available. If you are unable to contain the 

dog you can still contact our Customer 

Support Team or our After Hours 

Officers by phone to report 

it as a wandering dog. 

Our officers will only 

attend to cats if 

they have been 

contained. 

The City of Greater Bendigo 

is open from 8.30am – 5pm, 

Monday to Friday. 

To contact the Customer 

Support Team phone 5434 

6000, visit our office in Lyttleton 

Terrace, Bendigo or High Street, 

Heathcote, email requests@ 

bendigo.vic.gov.au or chat 

online using the webchat 

service on the City’s website 

www.bendigo.vic.gov.au 


Trial to shape new 

organics service 

The City is trialling a new fortnightly organic 

waste kerbside collection and a fortnightly 

waste collection at 2,800 households in parts 

of Kennington, Strathdale, East Bendigo, 

White Hills and North Bendigo. 

In 2014 Council adopted a Waste & Resource 

Management Strategy and committed 

to introduce a new organics service for 

residents living in the Bendigo urban area 

and in the townships of Heathcote, Elmore 

and Marong in an effort to divert organic 

material from landfill. 

“The City’s data shows that 50 per 

cent of waste placed in resident’s 

rubbish bins is organic waste and 

it is currently going straight to 

landfill” 

By separating out organic waste the City will 

extend the life of local landfills. Doing so 

will also reduce the City’s current and future 

financial and environmental in the form of a 

levy on every tonne of waste that we put into 

our landfills. 

“This is a considerable annual payment 

totalling more than $3.4M each year so 

the more material that can be recycled 

the better for the ratepayer and the 

environment. 

“The trial is very important because the 

feedback we gain from the 2,800 trial 

participants will help shape the way the 

new organic service will operate when it is 

introduced to households in our 

townships and the remainder 

of the urban area on July 1, 

2016,” Mayor Cr Peter Cox 

said. 

“The new organics 

service will see 

organic food and 

garden waste diverted 

from the waste stream 

and trucked to a facility near 

Shepparton to be recycled into 

compost for reuse. 

“The City’s data shows that 50 per cent of 

waste placed in resident’s rubbish bins 

is organic waste and it is currently going 

straight to landfill. This is unfortunate as 

rotting organic waste is the biggest cause of 

methane gas in our landfill. 

“The trial of the new organic system is 

the biggest change in the past 30 years in 

the way residents sort their waste and the 

way the City collects and disposes of it. 

One of the biggest changes is the move to 

fortnightly collections for all bins in the trial 

area.” 

Trial households have received a new 240 

litre lime green lid organics bin, a kitchen 

caddy and a supply of special compostable 

caddy liners. 

The City has also appointed a Project Officer, 

Bridgette McDougall, to manage the trial, 

any issues that may arise and provide a 

dedicated contact for trial participants. 

Bridgette can be contacted on 5454 9523 or 

0439 283 628. 

The trial will be closely monitored and all 

trial participants will be contacted and 

asked to complete a survey about their 

experiences. 

The City is relying on feedback from trial 

participants to test the new system and help 

identify ways it can be improved before it is 

introduced to the wider community in 

July 2016. 

6 



Q&A 

Organics Collection Trial 

Why do we need a new organics collection service? 

In Greater Bendigo over 50 per cent of our household 

waste is organic in nature (food or garden) and can be 

composted and reused rather than going straight to 

landfill. 

By separating out organic waste through a new organics 

waste service we will not only extend the life of local 

landfills but also reduce the City’s current and future 

financial and environmental liabilities that must be paid to 

the State Government for every tonne of waste that we put 

into our landfills. 

Why is the City of Greater Bendigo trialling an 

organics collection? 

The Council has committed to introduce a new separate 

organics waste collection service for residents living in the 

Bendigo urban area and in the townships of Heathcote, 

Elmore and Marong. 

The trial will test the new system and help identify and 

solve any problems before the service is introduced to the 

wider community. 

Trial participants will play a very important role and will 

ultimately help shape the way the full organics service 

operates when it commences in July 2016. 

Why change to fortnightly waste and fortnightly 

organics trial collections? 

Data collected both in Greater Bendigo and throughout 

other parts of Victoria shows that approximately 50 

per cent of waste placed in residents red lid waste bin 

is organic waste. By introducing a separate organics 

collection the waste bin may not need to be collected as 

often. 

Fortnightly collections for both organics and general waste 

will help to keep the cost of an organic kerbside collection 

to a minimum for residents. 

Who is participating in the trial? 

Two collection areas that take in parts of Kennington, 

Strathdale, White Hills, East Bendigo and North 

Bendigo where waste is collected on Thursdays 

have been selected to participate in the trial. 

The trial areas have been selected because they 

have a range of different property sizes including 

multi-unit developments. Both areas also have 

a mix of larger families with young children and 

smaller household sizes which will allow the City to assess 

the impacts and effects on as many of these different 

demographic groups as possible. 

Only people within the selected areas can participate in 

the trial and no exemptions are available. Trial participants 

will not incur any costs over and above the normal waste 

management costs already charged on their rates notice. 

What happens to the organics once collected? 

Organic material collected is sent to a commercial 

composting facility near Shepparton where it is turned 

into compost, soil and mulch. The compost is then used 

for improving soil health for primary production and 

improving the health of parks and gardens, therefore it is 

essential that contamination is kept at a minimum. 

What can I put in my new organics 

bin? 

A combination of garden and kitchen waste can 

be put into the organics (lime green lid) bin. The 

full range of food and garden organics that can be 

placed in the new organics bin includes: 

Fruit and vegetable scraps 

Cooked or uncooked food 

Meat, poultry and bones (cooked or raw) 

Timber (unpainted, unstained) 

Sawdust 

Bread, rice, pasta, cereal 

Paper towel and tissues 

Tea leaves, tea bags and coffee grounds 

Paper and cardboard including shredded 

paper 

Weeds, leaves and small plants 

Prunings and small branches 

(less than 100 mm diameter and 300 mm long) 

Bark 

Eggs and egg shells 

Fish and other seafood (cooked or raw) 

Vacuum cleaner dust and dirt 

Hair and animal fur 

Lawn clippings 

Dairy products including cheese, yoghurt and 

cream 

What can’t I put in my organics bin? 

Treated or painted timber, laminates and MDF 

Garden tools 

Garden hose 

Garden furniture 

Plastic bags and plastic wrapping (eg. cling 

wrap) 

Liquids (e.g. cooking oil) 

“Biodegradable” bags 

Branches (more than 100 mm diameter or 300 

mm length) 

Large logs or stumps 

Plant pots 

Household garbage 

Dead animals 

Remember if it 

didn’t grow, it 

doesn’t go in your 

green organics bin! 


What’s in the works? 

As part of Council’s commitment to deliver improved infrastructure, a range of works are currently underway or have recently been completed. 

Works have been undertaken by a specialist to remove paint at the Joss House to 

restore the main temple to its original state. Project cost: $13,500. 

The City in conjunction with Shire of Mitchell have constructed a new bridge over Wild Duck 

Creek on the Heathcote-East Baynton Road, Argyle. Project cost: $400,000. 

Road reconstruction works being undertaken in Moran Street, North Bendigo between Havilah Road and Harrison Street are estimated to cost $900,000. Works are scheduled to be completed 

by the end of September. 

8 



The City is progressing with 

drainage construction in Broad 

Parade, Spring Gully. Works are 

expected to be completed in late 

October at an estimated cost of 

$520,000. 

A $642,000 drainage project from Canterbury Gardens to Sovereign Court via Turnbull 

and Darling Streets and Sailors Gully Road, Eaglehawk will alleviate flooding. Works are 

expected to be completed by late October. 

The City has completed drainage works in Strathdale Crescent, Strathdate to alleviate 

residential flooding. The estimated cost of the project is $285,000. 

Other works underway or completed: 

• Three Hills Lane, Emu Creek: road reconstruction 

• Mackenzie Street West, Kangaroo Flat: minor drainage upgrade 

• Canterbury Park Project, Eaglehawk: Sports Precinct redevelopment 

• Bendigo Botanic Gardens: restoration works on the Arch of Triumph 

• Tree Planting and Maintenance program across the municipality 

• Osborne Street, Flora Hill: drainage projects 

A list of current works is available at 

www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/roadworks 


2015/2016 Budget to improve liveability 

The 2015/2016 Budget will deliver $63.22M in 

capital works and $166.46M in services to the 

community that will build a better, healthier 

and sustainable Greater Bendigo. 

The Budget includes a rate rise of 4.75 per 

cent – the lowest rise in five years. Fees and 

user charges will raise around 12 per cent 

of the Council’s income, providing $22.1M 

towards the overall Budget. 

The rates you pay are used to deliver projects 

and services that improve our overall 

liveability in Greater Bendigo. 

Strong partnerships with other levels of 

government mean that works on a new 

1,600m long runway at the Bendigo Airport, 

the Greater Bendigo Indoor Aquatic Leisure 

and Wellbeing Centre and the Bendigo 

Stadium expansion can commence. 

To limit the financial impact on ratepayers 

Council will borrow $5M and receive $21M 

in grants for operating activities, along 

with $14.2M in grants for capital works. 

Ratepayers will receive a refund of $20 on 

each kerbside garbage bin collection as a 

result of the repeal of the carbon tax. 

Council will begin rolling out the New Paths 

Program, with more than $1M to be spent 

this financial year and a further $1.3M to 

renew existing footpaths. There is also $9.8M 

to upgrade sealed roads, $2.5M to improve 

gravel roads and $3.5M to upgrade existing 

drainage systems. 

Service delivery is Council’s core business, 

so it continues to invest in a wide range 

of services including $10.16M to maintain 

our parks and gardens, $7.07M for waste 

management, $3.06M for libraries and 

$1.69M for Maternal and Child Health. 

Over $2M will go towards a partnership 

project with the Federal Government and 15 

other local councils to continue upgrading 

23,000 streetlights in north, west and central 

Victoria with energy efficient technology. 

This initiative is expected to save the City in 

the order of $19.5M over the next 20 years. 

External influences: 

• Rate capping – from 2016/2017 the State 

Government proposes to introduce a 

rate cap restricting future Council rate 

increases. If rate increases must remain 

in line with inflation, this will impact the 

projects and level of service Council can 

commit to in the future 

• Consumer Price Index (CPI) increases on 

goods and services 

• Managing the impact of being a growing 

city with associated community needs 

• Potential future liability related to the 

Defined Benefit Superannuation Fund 

Internal influences: 

• Implementing recommendations from the 

Independent Review of the City of Greater 

Bendigo 

• Council’s commitment to several large 

capital works projects that will require 

increased funding through grants, rate 

revenue and loan borrowings 

• Additional pressures to maintain service 

levels while service demand increases 

• The need to replace and upgrade ageing 

infrastructure 

Capital works 

Road re-sealing and 

re-paving 

Drainage renewals 

Gravel road and gravel 

shoulder re-sheeting 

Footpath renewals and 

re-paving 

New Paths Program 

Final stage of East Bendigo 

Link Road 

$9.8M 

$3.54M 

$2.5M 

$1.3M 

$1.07M 

$960,000 

Service delivery 

Parks and Gardens 

Waste Management 

$10.163M 

$7.074M 

Building Maintenance $5M 

Libraries 

Street Cleaning 

Maternal and Child Health 

Childcare 

$3.067M 

$1.946M 

$1.694M 

$1.036M 

For more details on the 2015/2016 Budget 

visit www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/budget 

10 



How we compare with other regional centres in Victoria: 

Municipality 

New 51.5m pool gets tick of approval 

Council will build a showcase 51.5m pool 

at the new Greater Bendigo Indoor Aquatic 

Leisure and Wellbeing Centre. 

The eight-lane swimming pool, which 

includes a 1.5m removable boom, will 

be accessible year round along with 

outstanding additional features including an 

indoor splash play area, learn to swim pool, 

hydrotherapy pool, wellness centre, spa and 

sauna, gymnasium, multipurpose rooms 

and café. 

The Budget includes $3M to finalise design 

and commence construction, which will 

mostly come from project partner the State 

Government. 

Garden for the Future 

Average $ increase 

for rates and 

garbage charges 

Wangaratta $121 $1,852 

Ballarat $117 $2,016 

Horsham $88 $1,954 

Shepparton $85 $2,238 

Warrnambool $81 $1,984 

Wodonga $77 $2,258 

Bendigo $74 $1,769 

Geelong $73 $1,685 

Mildura $73 $2,201 

La Trobe City $50 $1,663 

The Bendigo Botanic Gardens Garden for 

the Future project will begin construction 

following a Budget allocation of $1.5M. 

Last year the City signed a funding 

agreement with the Victorian Government 

that included a $3.4M contribution from the 

City, $500,000 from Regional Development 

Victoria and $20,000 from Friends of the 

Botanic Gardens, to be spent over two years. 

The project includes construction of two 

hectares of botanic gardens, paths, shelters, 

a stage and grassed amphitheatre, and 

visitor toilets. It will also feature more than 

500 different species of plants. 

The Garden for the Future will open to the 

public in 2017. 

Average rates, municipal charges 

and waste management charge per 

assessment 

Bendigo Airport runway takes off 

Local industry and the emergency services 

sector will benefit from the City’s investment 

to build a new 1,600m runway at the 

Bendigo Airport. 

The Budget includes $6.8M for the project, 

which will be put towards the new runway, a 

runway edge lighting system, guidance signs, 

illuminated wind direction indicators, airport 

lighting electrical control cubicle and shelter, 

and line marking. 

Of the $6.8M, Council has contributed $2.8M 

and the remaining $4M is from the Federal 

and State Governments. Overall, the project 

will cost $15M. 

The new runway will allow the airport to 

receive aircraft weighing up to 25,000kg and 

carrying up to 75 people, small personal 

jets, single or twin prop passenger aircraft, 

and some freight aircraft will be able to 

land at the airport. Due to Bendigo’s central 

location in the state, the works also ensure 

emergency services can remain at the airport 

and continue to care for people across 

Victoria. 

News Paths Program, road and 

drainage renewals, and East Bendigo 

Link Road 

The $1.07M New Paths Program will allow 

for new footpaths in the growth urban areas 

of Epsom, Ascot, Kangaroo Flat and Huntly 

and further development of the shared path 

along Back Creek between Williamson Street 

and Mundy Street. 

Both the Council Plan and the Connecting 

Greater Bendigo: Integrated Transport and 

Land Use Strategy emphasise the importance 

of providing more walking and cycling 

pathways. 

The Budget also includes a further $9.8M in 

road re-sealing and re-paving, $3.54M on 

drainage renewals, $2.5M for gravel road 

and gravel shoulder re-sheeting, $1.3M 

for footpath renewals and re-paving, and 

$960,000 to complete the final stage of the 

East Bendigo Link Road. 

Council continues investment in 

recreation facilities 

The Budget invests in recreation projects to 

support Greater Bendigo’s residents’ overall 

health and wellbeing. 

Over the next two financial years the 

Council will invest $2M to construct a new 

social pavilion at Eaglehawk’s Canterbury 

Park, home to junior and senior Australian 

Rules Football, cricket and netball clubs. 

The Budget also includes $399,804 for 

construction of the Dower Park Reserve 

social rooms, $385,000 to expand the Spring 

Gully soccer pavilion, $114,816 for the 

detailed design of community recreation 

facilities at Bendigo South East College and 

$100,000 for the detailed design of a new 

community facility at the Bendigo Tennis 

Centre. 

Each year Council also invests in renewing 

its recreation facilities and this year’s Budget 

includes $660,000 for tennis/netball court 

line marking and resurfacing, $355,000 for 

swimming pool renewal, $100,000 for sports 

field improvements and $70,000 to light 

sporting facilities. 

Bendigo Stadium to be regional 

Victoria’s best multipurpose 

stadium 

Major events, concerts and local, state, 

national and international sporting 

competitions will all be catered for following 

the revitalisation of the Bendigo Stadium to 

accommodate up to 4,000 spectators. 


2015/2016 Budget to improve liveability (continued) 

The Budget includes $5.75M to transform the 

Bendigo Stadium into regional Victoria’s best 

multipurpose stadium. 

The funding will help implement the 

$16.5M Bendigo Stadium Master Plan, 

which features a three court/show court 

expansion as a staged project. The $5.75M 

will go towards finalising the design and 

commencement of construction of the three 

new courts and supporting amenities and 

upgrading the existing 12 outdoor netball 

courts. 

There is no cost to Council this financial year 

as the funding has been provided by project 

partners the State Government and Bendigo 

Stadium. 

Heathcote to benefit from major 

works 

The Budget invests more than $2M in the 

Heathcote area over the next two years. 

Of that funding, $1.5M, including $500,000 

this financial year, will be spent refurbishing 

the Barrack Reserve Pavilion and turning it 

into a community hub. Separately, $150,000 

will also be spent upgrading the football 

change rooms. 

The refurbishment includes updating the 

existing change rooms, construction of 

umpire change rooms, storage, upgrading 

the kitchen/kiosk and expanding the social 

space/meeting room. The community hub 

will be an asset available to sporting groups, 

primary schools, the Heathcote Bush Market 

and the Heathcote Partnership Group to 

name a few. 

The Budget also includes $25,000 to connect 

the O’Keefe Rail Trail to the Heathcote 

township and Visitor Information Centre, 

and $60,000 to complete Stage 2 of the 

Heathcote play space to 

include a flying fox and 

other play equipment. 

Your rates at work: how the City spends every $100 it collects 

$6.04 

$5.34 

Family and childcare 

• Early learning centres 

• Maternal and Child Health 

• Immunisation 

Engineering 

• Planning and delivery of a range of 

infrastructure including road, parks, 

open spaces, bridges, drainage and 

urban developments 

$4.41 

$21.11 

Sustainability, Waste, Recycling 

• Kerbside garbage and recycling 

collection 

• Street cleaning 

• Urban drainage clearance 

• Operate transfer stations and 

landfill sites 

• Environmental Planning 

• Ecological Sustainability 

$11.49 

City works 

• Maintenance and repairs of City 

infrastructure and capital assets 

e.g. road, footpath, drainage, 

recreational facilities, and plant and 

equipment 

$9.36 

Arts and cultural services 

• Ulumbarra Theatre 

• The Capital Theatre 

• Bendigo Art Gallery 

• Goldfields Library branches – 

Bendigo, Kangaroo Flat, Eaglehawk, 

Heathcote and mobile library 

services 

$9.04 

Planning and building services 

• Building advice and planning 

services 

• Building inspections 

• Property maintenance 

$8.87 

Parks and recreation 

• Maintain sports grounds, parks, 

gardens and open space 

$7.33 

Compliance 

• Council Governance 

• Parking and Animal Control 

• Environmental Health Regulation 

$3.15 

Community Partnerships 

• Community engagement 

• Recognise, support and celebrate 

cultural diversity 

• Develop community events 

• Deliver youth programs 

Tourism and events 

• Raise Bendigo’s profile as an 

exceptional place to live, work, 

invest and visit 

• Bendigo and Heathcote Visitor 

Centres 

• Provide professional marketing 

services and training to support 

tourism-related businesses 

• Coordinate and manage major 

events e.g. Bendigo Easter Festival 

and Anzac day 

• Support promotion of major events 

$5.83 

Home and Community Care 

• Personal care 

• Respite care 

• Meals on Wheels 

• Planned Activity Group 

$1.22 

Contracts and major projects 

• Contract and project coordination 

• Deliver major projects including 

the new Greater Bendigo Indoor 

Aquatic Leisure and Wellbeing 

Centre, the new Bendigo Airport 

runway and Bendigo Stadium 

expansion 

• Source funding from external 

sources 

$1.49 

City vision and strategy 

• Develop integrated plans to help 

make Greater Bendigo the most 

liveable city in regional Australia 

e.g. the Connecting Greater 

Bendigo: Integrated Transport and 

Land Use Strategy, the Residential 

Development Strategy and the 

Rosalind Park Precinct Master Plan 

$4.12 

Active and Healthy 

Communities 

• Facilitate public access to sporting 

grounds 

• Maintain swimming pools 

• Deliver Healthy Together Bendigo, 

a program to address underlying 

causes of poor health in the 

community 

$1.19 

Economic and Business 

development 

• Support business, economic, 

commercial and industry 

development, with a particular 

focus on supporting businesses 

to expand and grow and to attract 

new investment in our local 

economy 

12 



Working with our community 

Pictured above L-R: City Community 

Grants Officer Narelle Lyle, Bendigo 

Neighbourhood Hub’s Angelique 

Whitehouse, City Community 

Development Officer Glynn Jarrett, 

Mayor Cr Peter Cox, Central Victorian 

Agribusiness Forum’s Martin Szakal and 

Sedgwick Public Hall’s Gaelle Broad. 

New grants program benefits community 

Thirty-eight community groups have 

received a major funding boost following 

the first distribution of funds from the 

City’s Partnership Grants Program. 

Successful applicants have shared in 

$1,131,550 with $377,300 to be allocated 

in the first year, $377,250 in the second 

year and $377,000 in the third year. 

The new funding program invited all 

eligible organisations to apply for funding 

for one, two or three year terms to deliver 

projects that: 

• Align with Council’s strategic objectives 

• Support community recognition 

of cultural, historic or nationally 

significant events and activities 

• Promote partnerships across 

organisations and have great potential 

for lasting community benefit 

Mayor Cr Peter Cox said the new program 

allows applicants to plan ahead and 

deliver projects over a number of years. 

“It also encourages non-profit 

organisations to be ambitious in the goals 

they set and to consider how they can 

work in partnership to achieve positive 

outcomes for the broader community,” 

Peter said 

Applications to the Partnership Grants 

Program will re-open in 2018. 

The successful recipients of the inaugural Partnerships Grants Program are: 

Elmore Progress Association Inc. 

Clan Macleod Pipe Band 

McIvor Neighbourhood House 

Rural Australians for Refugees 

Sports Focus 

Bendigo Newcomers 

Long Gully Neighbourhood Centre Inc. 

Kangaroo Flat Community Group Inc. 

Bendigo Volunteer Resource Centre Inc. 

Eaglehawk Community House 

Bendigo Community Sister Cities 

Committee Inc. 

Golden City Pipe Band 

Marong Neighbourhood House 

U3A Bendigo 

Lions Club of Heathcote Inc. 

Bendigo Neighbourhood Hub 

Bendigo Sustainability Group 

Bendigo Community Theatre and Arts Inc. 

Bendigo Symphony Orchestra 

Bendigo Queer Film Festival 

Sedgwick Public Hall, Recreation and 

Conservation Reserve 

Maiden Gully Progress Association Inc. 

FreeWheeling Fun 

Bendigo Bands Group 

Bendigo Foodshare 

Rotary Club of Bendigo 

Bendigo Safe Community Forum Inc. 

Eaglehawk Dahlia and Arts Festival Inc. 

Loddon Campaspe Multicultural 

Services Inc. 

Bendigo EEV/HPV Grand Prix 

Bendigo Interfaith Council 

Community Leadership Loddon Murray 

Bendigo and District Aboriginal 

Cooperative 

Loddon Campaspe Centre for Sexual 

Assault 

Bendigo Competitions Society Inc. 

Golden City Support Services 

Bendigo Youth Choir 

Central Victorian Agribusiness Forum 

We’ve got 

you covered 

There is lots to consider when 

planning an event – where, when, 

how many people? 

In all the excitement, don’t forget 

Public Liability Insurance. The City 

of Greater Bendigo can provide 

insurance for people who hire Cityowned 

or controlled buildings or 

land, such as our beautiful parks and 

gardens. 

For $25, the City’s policy provides 

coverage to the value of $20M. It’s for 

people wanting to hire our facilities 

that do not have any other form of 

Public Liability Insurance. 

There are some exclusions and 

limitations, so for more information 

visit www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/ 

publicliability 


Family 

matters 

Did you know more than 1,300 babies are born 

in the City of Greater Bendigo each year? 

To help parents cope with the demands 

of a new baby, the City operates 13 

Maternal and Child Health Centres that 

provide a free service to all families with 

babies and young children aged zero to 

six years. 

The centres are staffed by Maternal 

and Child Health Nurses and provide 

information, guidance and support on 

issues such as breastfeeding, child health 

and development, maternal health, 

parent-child relationships, home and 

care safety for infants, child accident 

and injury prevention, immunisation, 

nutrition, family planning and much 

more. 

Each time a baby is born the 

relevant hospital will notify the City. 

An administration officer will then 

contact the family and arrange a 

home visit by the nurse and arrange 

appointments with a Maternal and 

Child Health nurse. Parents are welcome 

to ask the nurse about any concerns they 

may have about their own or their child’s 

health and wellbeing. The nurse is able 

to offer information on support available 

and provide referrals to other agencies 

within the local community to meet 

clients’ needs. 

To find out where the Maternal and 

Child Health Centres are located or for 

further information about the service, 

phone 4408 6590 or go to go to 

www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/ 

maternalchildhealth 

Immunisation protects us 

Immunisation is the most effective way 

to protect both children and adults 

against disease. 

The City delivers a comprehensive 

immunisation program and in the 

first six months of this year gave 2,892 

vaccines at public immunisation 

sessions and 5,698 vaccines in 

secondary schools. 

Each month the City conducts nine free 

public sessions at various venues across 

the municipality, with all vaccines on 

the Immunisation Victoria Schedule 

available at each session and no 

appointment is required. 

City staff also attend each local 

secondary school three times a year to 

implement the school vaccine program 

in accordance with Department of Health 

and Human Services guidelines, which 

immunise students against the human 

papillomavirus and chickenpox, and 

provide booster shots to protect against 

diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis. 

For more information on immunisation 

call 5434 6000. 

14 



Register a sausage 

sizzle for a fundraiser 

Sausage sizzles are a great way to raise 

funds for clubs, community groups, 

charities etc, however it is important that 

people planning to stage one take the 

time to register their activity. 

Registering sausage sizzles ensures that 

appropriate food safety standards are 

met and is a requirement under the Food 

Act 1984. 

A typical sausage sizzle includes 

sausages, onions, bread and sauce and 

an unopened soft drink or water. Such 

an activity comes under the lowest risk 

registration, and only requires a Class 

4 Notification and then a Statement of 

Trade (SOT) to be lodged. 

To prepare and sell foods such as 

hamburgers requires a higher class of 

registration with further food safety 

requirements. 

Victoria has a state-wide registration 

website called Streatrader for businesses 

and community groups to register their 

mobile and temporary food premises, 

including sausage sizzles. 

Visit the Streatrader website at: 

www.streatrader.health.vic.gov.au 

Tripping hazards 

reduced in Mall 

Small metal discs have been embedded 

into the pavement in the Hargreaves Mall 

to guide the placement of shop displays, 

goods for sale, A-frame signs and outdoor 

dining furniture. 

The trading indicators have been placed 

three metres from shop fronts and at five 

metre intervals along the length of the 

mall. 

City Environmental Health and Local 

Laws Manager, Susannah Milne, said the 

initiative is aimed at reducing tripping 

hazards by ensuring there is a clear 

pathway for pedestrian traffic. 

“The City periodically receives complaints 

from residents about trip hazards in 

the Mall 

caused by 

signs, goods 

or furniture 

being placed too 

close to the front of 

shops,” Susannah said. 

“It is very important to maintain a clear 

path, especially for the visually impaired, 

people in wheelchairs or other mobility 

devices, and those pushing children in 

strollers. 

“This makes it easier for the public to 

window shop and move around the city 

centre on foot, which is good for business.” 

Issues next door? Talk to your neighbour 

Every year, the City receives over 900 

complaints from residents that might have 

been better resolved by them talking to 

their neighbour. Issues range from smoking 

chimneys, loud music, bad language and 

noise from air conditioners and pool pumps. 

Getting the City involved often sees the 

situation deteriorate with many residents 

reporting they wished their neighbour had 

“just spoken to me first”. 

City Environmental Health and Local 

Laws Manager, Susannah Milne, said it is 

important for residents to feel empowered 

to manage situations themselves where they 

can. 

“It is normal to feel anxious about 

approaching your neighbour, particularly 

when you wish to let them know that 

something they are doing is impacting 

negatively on you,” Susannah said. 

“In many instances, though, residents are 

unaware that their actions are impacting on 

others and the situation is quickly resolved. 

“If talking to your neighbour fails to resolve 

the issue, then that is the time to consider 

getting the City involved.” 

There are many resources available to 

residents to help them deal confidently with 

neighbourhood disputes including: 

www.bendigo.vic.gov.au 

www.disputes.vic.gov.au 

www.epa.vic.gov.au 


Explore Greater 

Did you know that 

there is a maze of 

shared walking and 

cycling tracks, trails and 

pathways throughout 

Greater Bendigo? 

Many residents may be aware of the walking 

and cycling facilities located in their own 

neighbourhood however over recent years 

the City has invested considerable funds 

developing a network of interesting and 

varied shared pathways throughout both the 

urban and rural areas of the municipality. 

The city’s shared pathways take in some 

of Greater Bendigo’s most scenic parks, 

gardens, natural bushland reserves and 

recreation areas, so why not check out some 

of the following: 

Bendigo Creek Trail 

The Bendigo Creek trail starts at Crusoe 

Reservoir and No 7 Park and largely follows 

the Bendigo Creek through to the Epsom 

Primary School. Its surface is bitumen and 

the trail is a shared walking/cycling path that 

also utilises local streets through the city 

centre. Recent works have been undertaken 

to utilise the Bendigo Creek floor to travel 

under both the Calder Highway at Golden 

Square and Weeroona Avenue at North 

Bendigo. 

Lake Weeroona 

This is one of Bendigo’s most visited and 

popular recreation areas. It has sealed 

walking paths, a boardwalk, play space, 

barbecue and picnic facilities. 

Spring Gully Creek Trail 

This trail starts at the Spring Gully Recreation 

Reserve and follows Spring Gully Creek to 

the Bendigo Creek Trail. The track is bitumen 

and concrete and is a shared walking/ 

cycling track from the Spring Gully Oval to 

Ewing Park. Council has provided funds in 

the current budget to extend the trail past 

Mundy Street. 

Kennington Reservoir/Strathdale Park 

This expansive reserve extends from McIvor 

Highway to Condon Street and most sections 

are easily accessed from Reservoir Road. 

The reservoir end of the reserve has sealed 

walking tracks and picnic facilities. The 

McIvor Highway end of the reserve contains 

excellent sporting facilities, parkland and a 

play space. 

Lake Neangar/Lake Tom Thumb 

Lake Neangar was developed as a recreation 

area in 1883. The path around the lake is 

sealed and lit at night. Other features include 

a picnic shelter, boardwalk, tables, chairs, 

barbecue, skate park and play space. 

Mulga Bill Bicycle Trail 

This trail connects Lake Neangar to the 

Lightning Hill Lookout in the Eaglehawk 

Regional Park. This well formed trail is short 

but takes you to a lookout with magnificent 

views of Eaglehawk and Bendigo as well as 

the large area of forest to the north that is 

part of the Whipstick Public Lands. 

Woodvale Trail 

This walking and cycling trail lies on the 

northern side of Woodvale Road. It starts at 

the Eaglehawk North Primary School and 

finishes at the Woodvale Recreation Reserve. 

Goldfields Track, Spring Gully. 

Lake Neangar, Eaglehawk. 

16 



Bendigo….by foot….by bike…. 

Great Dividing Trail - Leanganook Track 

The Great Dividing Trail network comprises 

nearly 300 km of tracks that traverse 

the top of the Great Dividing Range in 

central Victoria. The Leanganook Track 

is a 60km section connecting Bendigo 

and Castlemaine and passes through Mt 

Alexander, Expedition Pass and Chewton 

finishing at the Castlemaine Railway Station. 

The 12km Goldfields Walk section starts at 

the Bendigo Railway Station and finishes 

at Sandhurst Reservoir. Visit the Great 

Dividing Trail Association website for more 

information www.gdt.org.au 

Campaspe River Trail Elmore 

This sealed trail commences at the bridge 

and follows alongside the Campaspe River 

in Elmore. 

Left: Pink Cliffs, Heathcote. 

Below: Spring Gully Creek Trail. 

Bendigo Bushland Trail 

This trail encircles the urban area of Bendigo 

and covers a total distance of 74.6 km. It 

consists of bicycle and walking tracks as well 

as some road tracks and passes through 

urban parks, forests and other public land. 

It is also linked by bicycle and walking 

tracks to the Bendigo Creek Trail. The linking 

tracks provide easy access from the city to 

the nearby bushland and incorporate some 

of the best vantage points and significant 

historical and natural features of Bendigo. 

The City and other groups are currently 

working to review the route and improve 

signage on the trail so please take care when 

using the trail as not all signage is currently 

in place. 

If you use our unique bush 

land areas please assist in their 

conservation by taking your 

rubbish home, observing fire 

regulations and remaining on 

the tracks. Dogs on leads are 

permitted and all native plants 

and animals are protected. 

McIvor Creek Linear Park Heathcote 

This track runs from Barrack Street 

Heathcote to Shakespeare Street along the 

eastern side of McIvor Creek. It is a shared 

walking/cycling track with a compacted 

gravel surface and scenic views of the McIvor 

Creek. 

Viewing Rock, Heathcote 

A walking track from the Visitor Information 

Centre at Heathcote takes you to this great 

lookout spot. The walk takes you to the 

Valley of the Liquidambers, and the McIvor 

Range Reserve and Powder Magazine. The 

view takes in the Heathcote township and 

the Pink Cliffs Historic Reserve. 


Discover the O’Keefe Rail Trail 

A major $3.2M upgrade and extension of the 

O’Keefe Rail Trail from Axedale to Heathcote 

is now complete and available to explore. 

The extended trail features significant start 

and end destinations, a major regional city 

at one end and a wine and arts oriented 

town at the other. It will provide significant 

economic development, tourism and 

recreational opportunities and benefits for 

locals and tourists alike. 

Prior to the new extension, the trail ran for 

a total distance of 19kms from Bendigo to 

Axedale however, the new 30km extension 

from Axedale to Heathcote has extended its 

length to a total of 49kms. 

The extension project has been considerable 

and has included construction of 14 new 

bridges including a new, three span, 48m 

long concrete bridge downstream of the 

McIvor Highway bridge in Axedale. In 

addition, a new 90m steel and timber bridge 

over the Mount Ida Creek where it meets 

Lake Eppalock has been built and the former 

rail embankment has been raised above the 

Lake Eppalock full supply level. 

An underpass of the McIvor Highway on the 

Axedale side of the Campaspe River was also 

constructed so that users of the trail avoid 

crossing the busy highway at Axedale with 

the underpass linking to the new bridge 

across the Campaspe River. It also provides 

a much safer connection along the western 

bank of the river for all users of the 

river reserve. 

The bridge near 

Moorabbee 

Foreshore Road. 

Other works that have taken place include 

construction of new asphalt paths in 

Axedale and Heathcote, new gravel paths 

and installation of new map and wayfinding 

signage and distance markers along the 

entire trail. 

To complete the project, parts of four 

private properties were acquired and access 

agreements with three organisations and 

three private landowners were negotiated. 

The extension was funded by a $1.9M 

contribution from the State Government’s 

Regional Infrastructure Development Fund 

and a $1.3M contribution from the City. 

The trail is now comparable to other 

significant Australian trails such as the 

Murray to Mountain and Great Victorian Rail 

Trails in Victoria and the Riesling Rail Trail in 

South Australia and complements existing 

trails in the region such as the Wombat 

Forest Trails and The Goldfields Track which 

links Ballarat to Bendigo. 

Spring is the perfect time to discover the 

O’Keefe Rail Trail. So whether you choose 

to walk just a small section of the trail or its 

entire length you will not be disappointed as 

there is plenty to see and experience along 

the way. 

For more information vist 

www.okeeferailtrail.com.au 

BENDIGO 

LAKE WEEROONA 

BENDIGO 

Napier St 

BENDIGO 

Pratts Park Rd 

13.4 km 

A proud cycling city, 

Bendigo’s beautiful streets are 

a legacy of one of the world’s 

greatest gold rushes. Historic 

buildings and idyllic bushland are 

intertwined with contemporary 

experiences around the arts, 

world class attractions, 

wine, beer and local 

produce. 

BENDIGO FIELD 

NATURALISTS CLUB 

FLORA RESERVE 

Wilkie Rd 

Stop here for a dose of bush 

therapy. You’ll find local species 

like yellow box, grey gums, 

grey box, long-leaf box and 

red stringybark; and in winter 

and spring, golden wattle 

blooms reign. 

AXE CREEK 

BRIDGE 

This 60 metre long structure 

is the third bridge to be 

installed at the Axe Creek 

crossing, replacing a much 

smaller suspension bridge 

in 2012. The pretty spot is 

a favourite stop off 

for picnics. 

B280 

AXE CREEK 

LONGLEA 

Longlea Ln 

O’Keefe Trail 

Bendigo Bushland Trail 

Goldfields Track 

Bendigo Creek Trail 

McIvor Highway 

Northern Highway 

Rivers and creeks 

B280 

B75 

Information Centre 

Car parking 

Toilets 

18 



- there’s lots to see and do! 

LONGLEA 

AXEDALE 

KNOWSLEY 

8.1 km 11.4 km 16.1 km 

HEATHCOTE 

Obriens Ln 

LONGLEA 

RECREATION 

RESERVE 

Catch a local cricket or tennis 

match, or see dog training 

in action beside the scenic 

Axe Creek. Surrounded 

by beautiful bushland, 

this is a great spot 

for a breather. 

AXEDALE 

Axedale is the O'Keefe 

Rail Trail’s halfway point. 

Stop here for a bite to 

eat and to discover 

some of the township’s 

historic buildings. 

AXEDALE 

Length: 49km (one way) 

B280 

Grade: 

Easy 

Crowes Rd 

PEPPERCORN 

PARK 

Peppercorn Park hosts a 

range of equestrian activities. 

With car parking available, 

this is the ideal place 

to stagger your journey 

along the trail. 

CAMPASPE 

RIVER RESERVE 

Take a walk along the 

Campaspe River. It once 

helped sustain various 

Indigenous groups along 

its course. Today, the 

slow-moving water is 

a haven for platypus. 

KNOWSLEY STATE FOREST 

KNOWSLEY 

CAMPASPE RIVER 

Moorabbee Rd 

Surface: Gravel with asphalt in 

Axedale and Heathcote 

B75 

AXEDALE 

FLORA AND 

FAUNA RESERVE 

This reserve is a protected 

sample of Axedale’s box 

ironbark forest, featuring grey 

box, yellow box, yellow gum, 

red ironbark, white box, red box 

and red stringybark, and some 

endangered flora. 

LAKE EPPALOCK 

MT IDA CREEK 

Old Bendigo Rd 

HEATHCOTE 

Heathcote boasts the longest 

main street of any country 

Australian town, as well as 

over 30 cellar doors in the 

region which is renowned 

for its award winning shiraz 

and the famous red 

Cambrian soils. 

Drinking Water 

Food & Drink 

LAKE 

EPPALOCK 

Covering a land mass 

of over 3000 hectares, 

this man-made lake is an 

important water storage, 

and playground for 

Bendigo and Heathcote. 

Mia Mia-Derrinal Rd 

ONE EYE STATE FOREST 

B280 

B75 

Heathcote–Redesdale Rd 

Herriot St 

HEATHCOTE 

BBQ / Recreation 

To Melbourne 


Destination Heathcote: it’s a long way 

from one end of town to the other 

At approximately six kilometres long 

Heathcote is reputed to have the longest 

main street of any small Australian town. 

Long street aside, there is also plenty to see 

and do in this terrific part of Greater Bendigo. 

Like Bendigo, Heathcote bears the legacies 

of a golden past from the interesting and 

colourful phenomenon of the “Pink Cliffs” 

(caused by early gold mining activity) to a 

range of heritage buildings some dating back 

to the 1850’s. 

In fact, Heathcote is one of the City of Greater 

Bendigo’s hidden treasures. Its beauty and 

appeal lie in its residential and commercial 

streetscapes filled with buildings from a 

past era. Its landscape setting is striking with 

the McIvor Ranges boldly providing a raised 

backdrop to the town. 

The surrounding State Forests provide bush 

walking/cycling tracks, look out points, 

tourism facilities, wineries, and recreation 

and leisure opportunities. 

Heathcote has a great range of local events, 

restaurants, cafes and wineries and is fast 

becoming one of Australia’s most loved wine 

regions known for its award winning Shiraz 

and other red wine varieties. 

Visitors are encouraged to drop into the 

Visitor Information Centre in High Street to 

find out more about the comprehensive list 

of attractions on offer. 

Heathcote is located on the McIvor Highway 

and is just a short 30-40 minute drive from 

Bendigo. 

Did you know? 

By 1855 the town boasted 

22 hotels and 3 breweries. 

In its hey-day Heathcote’s 

population was 35,000. 

The Heathcote district’s 

current population is 

approximately 3,800. 

Gold was first 

discovered in 

Heathcote 

in 1851. 

20 



Our environment 

City saves with 

energy upgrades 

Energy efficiency upgrades have been 

undertaken at seven of the City’s 

highest energy-consuming sites in an 

effort to reduce energy use and save 

money by lowering the operating costs 

of each building. 

The Energy Efficiency Upgrades project 

is the City’s latest initiative to reduce 

energy use, support clean energy, 

reduce carbon emissions and lower 

operating costs at the Hargreaves 

Street Multi-Storey Car Park, the City’s 

Lyttleton Terrace office, Adam Street 

Depot, Bendigo Livestock Exchange, 

Bendigo Aquatic Centre, Bendigo Art 

Gallery and The Capital. 

In November 2011 the City set a target 

to reduce its carbon emissions from 

energy use by 50 per cent by 2020, 

based on 2010/11 usage. In March 

2012, the City matched a $380,000 

Australian Government grant to make 

changes at seven of its highest energyconsuming 

sites. 

The funding was used to upgrade 

lighting, heating, cooling and 

ventilation to energy-efficient options 

and install new pump controls 

and pool blankets at the Bendigo 

Aquatic Centre. 

Test results have since confirmed 

that the City’s carbon emissions 

are on the way down and thanks 

to the upgrades the City is pleased 

to report that it has wiped just over 

$24,500 off its annual power bill. As 

far as carbon savings go, that’s 195 

tonnes less than in 2013. 

The City hopes the project will inspire 

residents and business owners to 

make similar changes and savings to 

their own energy costs and carbon 

emissions. 

Power bills down at 

Lyttleton Terrace offices 

The budget trackers of most busy office 

buildings expect to see an increase in 

the power bills each year but thanks to 

the Energy Efficiency Upgrades, one of 

Bendigo’s busiest has reversed the trend 

and is now making annual cost savings 

of over $4,800. 

Housing the offices of the Chief 

Executive Officer, Mayor and Councillors, 

Customer Support and payments and 

a range of other City departments 

hundreds of people a day access the 

City’s main Lyttleton Terrace office. 

Executive Services Manager, Peter 

Davies, said thanks to the upgrades 

made at the site, staff are now well 

aware of the organisation’s aim to cut its 

emissions. 

The Energy Efficiency Upgrades saw a 

raft of light sources switched to energyefficient 

alternatives, which included 

replacing exit lights, halogen down 

lights and fluorescent tubes with LED 

or T5 fluorescents, installing sensor 

4.8% 

lights, removing one lamp from twinlamp 

fittings and removing some lights 

altogether. 

These measures have cut energy use by 

4.8 per cent. 

Peter said he would continue consulting 

with staff and the City’s building and 

property specialists on ways to cut 

carbon emissions even further. 

“Solar solutions would be good if 

feedback tariffs and pay back periods 

are right,” Peter said. 

“Other businesses should look 

into simply changing lights, as it 

presents big savings for very little 

inconvenience.” 

Big savings 

for Multi-Storey Car Park 

The Hargreaves Street Multi-Storey Car 

Park caters for 290 cars and through the 

upgrades more than 250 LED sensorenabled 

lights have been installed in the 

car park decks, stairwells and ground 

floor areas to replace older powerguzzling 

light sources saving over $8,000 

in annual power costs. 

Parking co-ordinator John Hasty said his 

number-one priority was getting people 

safely in and out of those spaces, but 

if his unit could achieve that 

and lower operational costs, 

that’s even better. 

“Thanks to the Energy 

Efficiency Upgrades we are now 

seeing a massive 37 per cent drop 

in the car park’s power bills. We’re 

very happy with the results. I’ve been 

tracking it myself from the operational 

side of the budget and we’ve definitely 

been making good savings. The money 

that’s saved can now go to other projects 

that need it. 

Lighting accounts for 60 per cent of the 

building’s energy use, so it made sense for 

the project to target that lump sum. 

“My suspicion is there hasn’t been any 

major upgrades since the carpark was 

built in 1981, particularly around energy 

efficiency – that wasn’t a big concern in 

the ’80s and ’90s,” said John. 

“The recent upgrades were a great way 

to modernise the building in-line with 

today’s lower energy expectations and 

save money.” 


Incentive to 

protect bushland 

Myrtle Creek resident Christopher Kirwan is 

the latest landowner to be rewarded through 

the City’s Bushcare Incentive Program for his 

commitment to protecting bushland on his 

property. 

Christopher recently placed a Trust for 

Nature conservation covenant on his 

property. A conservation covenant is a 

permanent, legally-binding agreement 

placed on a property’s title to ensure native 

vegetation on the property is protected 

forever. 

“I always admire people like 

Christopher whose actions speak 

louder than words” 

Trust for Nature is a not for profit 

conservation organisation that seeks to 

conserve our precious yet fast disappearing 

bush and Christopher’s property is the fiftyfirst 

in Greater Bendigo to have a covenant 

placed on it. 

There is now over 600 hectares of bushland 

permanently protected on 46 Trust for 

Nature covenanted properties within the City 

of Greater Bendigo. All 46 properties are also 

part of the City’s Bushcare Incentive Program 

which has been designed to recognise and 

reward private land conservation. 

Through the Bushcare Incentive Program 

participants receive a one off payment of $25 

per hectare of land protected and then an 

ongoing 100 per cent rate rebate on the site 

value of the protected land. 

Christopher, whose property adjoins the 

Pilchers Bridge Nature Conservation Reserve 

said he is concerned that the natural 

environment is under continual pressure 

from population growth and economic 

development. 

“We must do more to protect the planet. It is 

my belief that global warming, loss of natural 

habitat, continual logging and the ever 

increasing exploitation of the earth’s finite 

resources as a result of growth economics, 

are putting the planet’s environment at risk. 

“So, in an effort to make some small 

contribution to redress these problems, I 

applied for a covenant on the property to 

prevent future development on the block. 

It will virtually become an extension of the 

nature reserve. In addition participation 

in Axe Creek Landcare Group projects has 

also seen numerous nest boxes installed 

and understory seedlings planted on the 

property”. 

Mayor Cr Peter Cox said the placing of the 

covenant on his property means Christopher 

has done something really terrific for the 

natural environment and Council is pleased 

to support private land conservation in this 

way. 

“I always admire people like Christopher 

whose actions speak louder than words,” 

Peter said. 

For more information about the City’s 

Bushcare Incentive Program please contact 

Senior Environment Officer Anthony Sheean 

on 0419 762 787. 

Work underway 

on new Environment 

Strategy 

Work has commenced on developing 

a new Environment Strategy for the 

City of Greater Bendigo. 

Sustainable Environment Manager, 

Robyn Major, said the City is exploring 

the environmental and sustainability 

challenges and opportunities 

facing the region and engaging with 

members of the public to develop the 

strategy. 

“Themes include climate change, 

energy and greenhouse gas emissions, 

biodiversity, water and land 

management,” Robyn said. 

“We want to find out what our 

community values most about our 

environment so we can develop 

actions and initiatives that meet 

community expectation and help us 

reduce the impact of our daily lives on 

the environment. 

“There are a number of ways the 

community can get involved in the 

development of the strategy. 

“Community members can complete 

the online survey, sign up to 

receive the online newsletter and 

post questions and comments on 

Facebook. 

“I encourage interested residents to 

get involved in the development of 

this important strategy for Greater 

Bendigo.” 

A series of forums have been 

held over recent months 

and they will culminate in 

a Community Discussion – 

Creating a roadmap for the 

next five years set to take place 

from 11am to 4pm on Sunday 

October 25, 2015 at the Capital 

View Street, Bendigo. This 

will feature guest speaker and 

renowned ABC TV presenter 

Costa Georgiadis from 

Gardening Australia. 

More information is available at 


envirostrategy 

22 



Nest box installed to 

attract Powerful Owls 

Staff from the City’s Parks and Natural 

Reserves team have installed a large 

habitat/nesting box in Rosalind Park in an 

attempt to lure a pair of Powerful Owls to 

the park. 

The Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua) is a large 

nocturnal raptor that requires large hollows 

for nesting and a plentiful food source with 

which to feed its young. 

During breeding season owls usually 

inhabit large hollows in trees to raise their 

young. 

Unfortunately suitable natural hollows large 

enough for this species are in short supply 

so the nest boxes are the next best thing 

because they replicate the habitat required 

and are large enough to accommodate two 

adult birds and their young. 

City Park Ranger Miles Geldard said by day 

Powerful Owls roost in trees feeding on 

their prey. However, when night comes 

they are most active. 

“The Powerful Owl is an apex predator. It 

is a hunter to many and prey to none and 

can devour a possum, flying fox or medium 

sized bird each evening which is a natural 

way to manage the number of these 

species in urban parks like Rosalind Park,” 

Miles said. 

“The City has also installed similar 

nesting boxes in trees at Crusoe Reservoir, 

Eaglehawk and Strathfieldsaye in an effort 

to attract Powerful Owls to these areas. 

“Homeless owls cannot always wait for 

the formation of natural hollow in which 

to raise their offspring and we are hoping 

to provide the owls with a home so that 

one day they can be removed from the 

threatened species lists.” 

In Box Ironbark country like that 

surrounding Bendigo the owls may have 

a home range of nearly 5000 hectares. 

The first records of a Powerful Owl using a 

nest box came back in 2006 in Blackburn, 

Victoria. Since then reports have been 

growing about the owls moving into 

suburban areas around Sydney and 

Canberra. 

This news is in turn attracting the attention 

of bird enthusiasts as the owls are listed 

as threatened on the Flora and Fauna 

Guarantee Act 1988 and vulnerable in NSW 

and Victoria. 

“It is often through landscape scale 

conservation efforts such as this that 

positive results are achieved.” 

City Park Ranger, Miles Geldard shows Monique and Annabelle Van Der Zee the new 

nest box in Rosalind Park. 

Now is the time to prepare for the summer 

Residents are reminded that the way to be 

prepared for hot weather and the threat 

of bush/grass fire is to start cleaning up 

around their properties now in readiness for 

summer. 

“The key to being prepared is to start early,” 

City Fire Prevention Officer, Sue Moses, said. 

“Residents in all areas of Bendigo – rural 

and suburban – should look around their 

properties and remove items that may 

present a fire risk to you, your family, your 

property and your neighbours. 

“Keeping grass short, cleaning gutters, 

removing dead timber, garden waste or 

unused building materials is an excellent 

start to being fire ready. 

“If you have elderly or less able neighbours 

please consider offering them some 

assistance in preparing their property. 

To assist residents to clean up their 

properties prior to the fire danger 

period the City offers free green 

waste weekends at Eaglehawk and 

Heathcote Landfills on October 24-25 

and November 21-22. 

“Residents are not only encouraged to 

clean their property but to update their 

bushfire survival plan. The CFA have some 

great practical advice and information that 

I encourage everyone to check out on their 

website at www.cfa.vic.gov.au 

Sue said that at the commencement of the 

Fire Danger Period, City staff will inspect 

private properties to ensure that the fire risks 

have been removed or reduced. 

“Where a property is considered to be a risk, 

officers will issue a Fire Prevention Notice 

to the property owner directing them to 

remove the risk. 

“If a property owner fails to comply with this 

Notice within the specified timeframe, then 

the City can and will enter the property to 

undertake the works. Property owners will 

charged for the cost of the works and may 

also be fined $1,516. 

“Owners concerned about their neighbours 

property are encouraged to have a 

conversation about how they can reduce the 

risk of fire collectively as a community. 

“If you find that you are not getting 

anywhere, please contact the City for some 

assistance. 

“Being fire ready is a community effort and 

the City hopes by working together we can 

reduce the incidence of fire affecting our 

lives this summer.” 


Ward news 

Safeguarding 

our heritage 

assets 

Greater Bendigo City Council is committed to 

safeguarding our magnificent heritage assets so they 

can be enjoyed by future generations. 

Over the past few months, restoration works have 

been underway at several sites in Whipstick Ward, 

including the Eaglehawk Town Hall, the Bendigo Joss 

House and the Bendigo Art Gallery. 

Works at the Eaglehawk Town Hall, opened in 1901, 

involved removing and replacing the roof of the 

landmark clock tower. 

The old lead roof was torn and letting in water, 

damaging the tower’s structure. It has been removed 

and replaced with a lighter material. 

Works also included replacement of the clock tower’s 

flagpole with a new one to match the original and the 

installation of a new system designed to protect the 

building from lightning strikes. 

The project cost around $85,000 to complete, was 

partially funded by a grant from Victoria’s Heritage 

Restoration Fund, and occurred at the same time as 

landscaping and drainage works in the surrounding 

precinct valued at some $160,000. 

The work at the Bendigo Joss House involved 

restoring the temple to its original state by carefully 

removing paint that had been covering its internal 

walls since the 1970s. 

For those not familiar with the site, the Joss House, a 

Chinese house of prayer, was constructed in the late 

1860s and is one of the few remaining buildings of its 

type in Australia. It is owned by the City and managed 

by the Bendigo Trust. 

The paint from the 1970s has been trapping moisture 

in the temple’s walls. Due to the heritage value of the 

building, the works were undertaken by a specialist 

paint remover in line with Heritage Victoria and EPA 

guidelines and cost around $13,500. 

At the Bendigo Art Gallery, the work involved 

replacing the guttering and lower section of roofing 

over the Abbott Court Gallery. The $68,000 works 

were aimed at weatherproofing the gallery space, 

which was built in the early 1900s. 

The City is also working in partnership with Bendigo 

TAFE to restore the cantilever balcony at Specimen 

Cottage in Hargreaves Street, which is used by the 

Bendigo Historical Society. The works will enable the 

balcony to be used by visitors to the historic cottage. 

As custodians of many of our magnificent heritage 

buildings, it is important for Council to provide 

adequate funding through its annual Budget to 

ensure their upkeep. 

Cr Peter Cox 

T: 5434 6189 

M: 0427 318 490 

E: p.cox@bendigocouncillors.org.au 

24 



Go Bulldogs! 

My goodness Bendigo is a great place to 

live. It’s fair to say Bendigo has gone from 

strength to strength in the past decade or 

so and I’m thrilled that our thriving arts and 

cultural reputation has helped contribute to 

the city’s success. 

I’m a great supporter of the local arts 

scene and the recent opening of the 

Ulumbarra Theatre has been a highlight 

for the Council this year. This is a truly 

remarkable facility, funded by all three 

levels of government and available for use 

by Bendigo Senior Secondary College and 

the community. 

The productions of Ned and Mary Poppins 

are just the beginning for Ulumbarra and 

in the coming months it will be exciting to 

welcome the Russian National Ballet and the 

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. 

“I have been a passionate Bulldogs 

supporter for more than 20 years 

and an eager volunteer in the kiosk” 

Ulumbarra complements last year’s 

unveiling of the extended Bendigo Art Gallery 

and together with the Capital Theatre and 

our highly regarded food and wine retailers 

means Bendigo’s standing as a vibrant and 

contemporary regional city is strong. 

Although the arts is more than just live 

theatre or a painting on a wall; it’s almost 

always in our daily life - the books we read, 

the music we listen to or the movies we 

watch. 

We are fortunate that the liveability of 

Bendigo allows for residents to enjoy a 

night out at a pub to listen to a band or visit 

the Star Cinema in Eaglehawk to watch an 

art house film, while the library provides 

residents with an endless supply of reading 

material – books, newspapers, magazines 

– not to mention DVDs and CDs, all of which 

are free. 

Arts and culture is just one aspect of Bendigo 

that makes our city truly liveable. As a 

Councillor in the Lockwood Ward, which 

includes Crusoe Reservoir and No. 7 Park, I 

am always astounded by the natural beauty 

of where we live. Barely a 15 minute drive 

from the CBD and you’re provided with a 

place to walk, swim and relax. 

Despite all this, my favourite place will come 

as no surprise to some – the kiosk at Golden 

Square Football Netball Club. I have been a 

passionate Bulldogs supporter for more than 

20 years and an eager volunteer in the kiosk. 

You can’t beat the Wade Street oval of a 

Saturday, where I get to talk with wonderful 

people, even if they do support the other 

team! 

You’ll find exactly this type of gathering at 

many sporting grounds or stadiums across 

Bendigo on a weekend. You’ll also find 

people who pitch in to help others in an hour 

of need, happy to donate time, energy and 

goods to help make someone’s day. 

This is what truly makes Bendigo great – the 

people that make up community in which 

we live. Go Bulldogs! 

Cr Rod Fyffe 

T: 5443 7673 

M: 0419 874 015 

E: r.fyffe@bendigocouncillors.org.au 


Chairman Longlea Reserve Committee of Management, James O’Bryen 

with Cr Rod Campbell at the newly extended Longlea Pavilion. 

Diversity in Eppalock Ward 

Eppalock Ward is large and diverse and I’m 

pleased to have this opportunity to talk 

about some recent, current and upcoming 

works within the ward. 

New bridges 

The City and the Shire of Mitchell recently 

partnered together on a $400,000 project to 

replace Smiths Bridge on East Baynton Road, 

Heathcote. This project involved replacing 

the old 1920’s wooden bridge with a new 

precast concrete structure to provide better 

access for residents in the area. This has 

been a great project for local residents. 

An old timber pedestrian bridge over the 

Kennington Reservoir spillway in Strathdale 

has also been replaced with a new steel 

and timber structure. In addition a second 

timber bridge further down the reserve has 

been repaired and a third will be replaced 

with a concrete crossing in the near future. 

The Kennington Reservoir reserve is used 

by hundreds of people on a daily basis for a 

range of recreational activities. The total cost 

of the new bridges and repairs at Kennington 

Reservoir is $110,000. 

New school crossing 

The City recently installed a new school 

crossing on busy Reservoir Road between 

Aviary Court and Nabilla Crescent in 

response to requests from community 

members concerned about the safety of 

students travelling to local schools in the 

area. 

The $15,000 project involved the 

construction of new pedestrian pathway 

approaches to the crossing, line marking 

and the installation of new signage. The 

crossing was constructed with the approval 

of VicRoads and is manned by a school 

crossing supervisor. 

Play spaces 

Following the recent opening of the $127,000 

upgraded play space at Heathcote’s Barrack 

Reserve and the new $400,000 play space 

at Strathfieldsaye Recreation Reserve, 

Council’s commitment to renew and provide 

great play spaces has continued with the 

completion of a $95,000 play space renewal 

in Landale Drive Strathdale. 

This financial year Council also plans 

to upgrade the very popular Strathdale 

Park play space located at the corner of 

Crook Street and McIvor Road, construct 

a new play space at Park Village Terrace 

in Strathfieldsaye and install further play 

equipment worth $60,000 at Heathcote’s 

Barrack Reserve play space. 

Building upgrades 

I am pleased to report that works to make 

the Heathcote Guides Hall and Seniors 

Centre accessible have taken place. This 

$95,000 project, funded by Council has 

included the removal of the old kitchen, 

the creation of a new foyer area and the 

construction of a new accessible ramp. 

A new kitchen with increased bench and 

storage space has also been constructed. 

The Longlea Pavilion has received a 

$576,000 upgrade and extension that has 

resulted in this community building almost 

doubling in size. The work has included 

improved kitchen facilities, a larger function 

area, construction of all abilities access 

toilets and change rooms. The pavilion 

is now set to become a major venue for 

community groups to meet in the Longlea 

area. The project was funded by the City 

along with a $100,000 State Government 

grant and a combined $100,000 

contribution from the Strathfieldsaye 

Community Enterprise and Longlea Reserve 

user groups. 

Drainage works 

A number of important projects to improve 

drainage have taken place in Osborne Street 

($77,000) and Friswell Avenue, Flora Hill 

($165,000), Strathdale Crescent, Strathdale 

($290,000), Retreat Road/Caroline Street, 

Flora Hill ($160,000) and Havlin Street West, 

Quarry Hill ($32,000). 

This work has alleviated flooding issues on 

private properties that has been occurring 

for some time. 

Blackspot funding welcomed 

The City has welcomed over $3.4M in 

funding for 12 projects through the Federal 

Government’s Blackspot Program which 

includes the Heathcote - North Costerfield 

Road, Heathcote $798,000. 

Meet with your Councillors 

I would like to invite residents to come 

along to the Eppalock Ward Community 

Engagement meetings that are regularly held 

at various locations throughout the Ward. 

The meetings provide a good opportunity 

to meet with and raise any matters with Cr 

Leach, Cr Weragoda or myself and everyone 

is very welcome and encouraged to attend. 

The meetings are advertised and dates can 

also be viewed on the city’s website 

www.bendigo.vic.gov.au under “Have your 

say” on the home page. 

Cr Rod Campbell 

T: 5434 6203 

M: 0427 514 429 

E: r.campbell@bendigocouncillors.org.au 

26 



Implementing the Integrated Transport and Land Use Strategy 

Council adopts plan to encourage healthy living 

and cut traffic congestion 

Planning our city 

Greater Bendigo City Council has adopted a 

bold new strategy that seeks to limit future 

traffic congestion, encourage healthier living 

and boost economic activity – all while 

accommodating significant population 

growth. 

The Connecting Greater Bendigo: Integrated 

Transport and Land Use Strategy (ITLUS) 

shows how this can be done and how 

everyone can play a part in ensuring Bendigo 

can be the most liveable regional city in 

Australia. 

“It is easy to make a difference. By changing 

the way we get to work or school one day in 

five – by walking, riding or catching public 

transport – we can help keep fit and healthy 

and reduce congestion on our roads,” Mayor 

Cr Peter Cox said. 

Peter said ITLUS was born from community 

dissatisfaction in an earlier strategy that 

sought to widen and build new roads in 

response to increased traffic congestion. 

“More than 90 per cent of people at the 

2012 transport discussions believed Greater 

Bendigo should set a vision for a more 

sustainable transport system and 70 per 

cent thought Greater Bendigo should be a 

more compact city with infill development,” 

he said. 

“The community has realised there is a 

better way to accommodate our growing 

population without destroying what we love 

about Bendigo. 

“Through ITLUS we have tapped into 

community attitudes by developing a 

strategy that encourages a compact Bendigo 

with most of our daily destinations within 10 

minutes of where we live. 

“ITLUS demonstrates how a small increase 

in walking or cycling to work, school or 

using public transport is a practical way to 

incorporate daily healthy activity into busy 

lives. People will still have their cars, and use 

them often. 

“Globally cities with a focus on active and 

public transport are increasingly seen 

as more liveable, more desirable and 

more economically successful than cities 

dominated by car-based transport. 

“Under the ‘business as usual’ scenario, 

traffic volumes on some roads could grow 

by up to 50 per cent over the next 20 years, 

increasing congestion and commuting 

times.” 

City Chief Executive Officer, Craig Niemann, 

said ITLUS recommends a series of actions, 

including ensuring that new residential 

developments are linked to the bicycle 

and pedestrian network and provision 

made for appropriate walking and cycling 

infrastructure within the development. 

“The strategy supports a major increase 

in the frequency of bus services, the 

establishment of a metro-style rail network, 

with more stations and more frequent train 

services that are better connected to bus 

services,” Craig said. 

Over time, it advocates for new railway 

stations to be built at Huntly, Lansell Square, 

Maiden Gully, Marong and the proposed 

Marong Business Park, and the re-opening of 

Golden Square station. 

Freight hubs would be developed in strategic 

locations outside the urban area, where 

larger loads that are delivering goods 

to a growing population and expanding 

economy, would be broken up onto smaller 

loads and lighter vehicles. 

ITLUS finds there is no substantial evidence 

to support building a new Bendigo ring 

road and instead calls for the existing road 

network to be used in smarter ways. 

Craig said ITLUS provides a clear direction 

and sets priorities for expenditure and 

action. 

Other groups and organisations 

that have agreed to partner with 

the City to help implement ITLUS 

include: 

- Bendigo Bank 

- La Trobe University 

- Bike Bendigo Inc. 

- Bendigo Health 

- Healthy Together Bendigo 

- Urban Development Institute of 

Australia 

- White Hills Primary School 

- Whitmore Group (buses) 

- Victorian Bus Association 

- Christian’s Bus Co 

- Bendigo Manufacturing Group 

- Bendigo Business Council 

- Bendigo Sustainability Group 

- Public Transport Victoria 

- Coliban Water 

- VicRoads 

City staff ride through 

CBD. Image courtesy of the 

Bendigo Advertiser. 


Implementing the Integrated 

ITLUS actions include: 

• Accelerate the progressive rollout of footpaths, 

shared paths and bicycle paths and trails, and bicycle 

parking in Bendigo and key townships, with a focus 

on improving safety, access and connections to key 

destinations such as schools, public transport, sport 

and recreation facilities and activity centres 

• Coordinate local and regional timetables so that busto-bus 

and bus-to-train interchanges are efficient and 

convenient for public transport users, particularly at the 

four Bendigo railway stations 

• Work closely with the Bendigo Taxi Directorate to 

identify opportunities to widen the scope and better 

integrate their services with public transport and 

community transport 

• Ensure that new residential developments are linked 

to the bicycle and pedestrian network and provide 

appropriate walking and cycling infrastructure inside 

the development 

• Investigate the potential of telecommuting and 

teleconferencing as a means of reducing the need for 

some daily travel 

• Consolidate existing services to improve public 

transport connections between Heathcote and urban 

Bendigo with services for Axedale and Junortoun 

• Develop Township Structure Plans for Marong, Elmore 

and Heathcote to provide a framework for their 

growth, improved public transport connections with 

Bendigo, improved walking and cycling options and 

development, which will protect their towns’ unique 

character 

• Advocate for the progressive rollout of ‘real time’ bus 

arrival information across the city’s interchanges and at 

bus stops 

• Explore the introduction of a specialised, high frequency 

and longer span shuttle service between La Trobe 

University, the city centre and the Bendigo Hospital 

• Consider waiving or reducing the statutory car 

parking requirements for businesses which establish 

arrangements to enable employees to work from home 

and can demonstrate other measures to reduce staff 

travel as single occupant drivers 

• Commence discussions with commercial car sharing 

companies and provide incentives to encourage them 

to set up schemes in Bendigo 

• Explore opportunities to develop a Bendigo branded 

public transport app which makes it easier to navigate 

the public transport system 

• Develop an educational campaign to dispel the danger 

myths surrounding children’s independent travel to 

school particularly focussing on stranger danger and 

road safety compared with the issues associated with 

car travel 

• Provide incentives to developers who wish to 

build small scale, shared, communal or short-term 

office space in designated areas such as Local 

Neighbourhood Activity Centres to bring employment 

closer to where people reside 

• Develop a ‘Postcode 3550’ strategy to encourage 

high quality, well designed, mixed-use residential 

development of two to three storeys in and around the 

city centre to accommodate 3,000 people by 2030 

Big employers encourage staff to 

walk, cycle or catch the bus. 

All aboard - new Strathfiedlsaye bus service 

Some of Greater Bendigo’s biggest 

employers are encouraging their staff 

to ride, walk or take public transport 

as an alternative to car travel. 

“We could take over 1,000 

cars off the road each day 

if for one day per week 

each employee at the City, 

Bendigo Bank, La Trobe 

University and Bendigo 

Health, walked, cycled, 

car shared or used public 

transport” 

The City and the Bendigo and 

Adelaide Bank recently teamed 

up to provide their staff with an 

opportunity to sample a new bus 

service to and from Strathfieldsaye. 

Research undertaken as part 

of Connecting Greater Bendigo: 

Integrated Transport and Land Use 

Strategy (ITLUS) reveals there are 

a large number of employees from 

both organisations who commute to 

work from Strathfieldsaye by car. 

Reducing peak hour traffic 

congestion on Bendigo’s roads and 

encouraging healthier transport 

options are two of the key objectives 

of ITLUS and the City and Bank have 

agreed to explore opportunities to 

collaborate to deliver this and other 

objectives. 

Mayor Cr Peter Cox said the 

partnership between the City and the 

Bank was just the beginning. 

“Council is keen for all major 

employers to work with the City so 

we can encourage more employees 

to make the shift from cars to cycling, 

walking and public transport,” Peter 

said. 

“We could take over 1,000 cars off the 

road each day if for one day per week 

each employee at the City, Bendigo 

Bank, La Trobe University and 

Bendigo Health, walked, cycled, car 

shared or used public transport.” 

Scott Elkington from the Bendigo and 

Adelaide Bank said the organisation 

was keen to encourage its employees 

to reduce their car usage. 

“As one of Bendigo’s largest 

employers we have a role to play 

in ensuring the city remains a great 

place to live and work. Walking or 

riding to work and catching public 

transport will reduce congestion and 

this will add to Greater Bendigo’s 

overall appeal,” Scott said. 

The proposed new bus service will 

be operated by Whitmores Bus Lines 

and will take around 30 minutes 

during peak times. 

The City is working actively with the 

Bendigo Business Council to bring 

as many of its over 300 members 

on board with active healthy travel 

choices. 

For more information visit 


transportplanning 

28 



Transport and Land Use Strategy 

N 

W 

E 

S 

My local 

neighbourhood 

At the heart of ITLUS and the Council’s adopted 

Residential Strategy lies the 10-minute 

neighbourhood concept – by better planning where 

we live we can bring our daily destinations closer 

and make walking and cycling realistic choices for 

many local trips. 

An update is planned for the City website’s 

Community Compass tool which will help 

children, families and residents learn about 

facilities, places of interest and community 

groups located within a 10-minute walk or cycle of 

where they live. 

The initiative is a result of collaboration 

between the City and Bendigo TAFE. 

A schools guide to 

increasing walking 

and cycling 

The City is developing a guide to help school 

communities to better understand the benefits 

of children walking and cycling to and from their 

school. 

Recent research at White Hills Primary School 

undertaken as part of ITLUS showed that 86 per 

cent of students there wanted to travel to and 

from school using an active mode of transport. 

The guide will enable the schools to develop 

a picture of their current travel habits, as well 

as fun and interactive activities designed to 

encourage walking, cycling and other active 

transport options. 

Pilot projects have been undertaken at White 

Hills Primary School, Huntly Primary School 

and Epsom Primary School to help develop the 

guide. 

All primary schools in Greater Bendigo will 

be provided with copies which parents and 

teachers are encouraged to support. 


Playing In Greater Bendigo 

Taste of Olympics with Rugby Sevens tournament 

Rugby Sevens are coming to Bendigo with 

the Melbourne Rebels and the City hosting 

the Goldfield Sevens on October 24 and 25 

at the Epsom Huntly Regional Recreation 

Reserve. 

The Goldfield Sevens tournament will 

see over 30 Australian and international 

teams compete in a range of competition 

levels from Under 12s to Senior Men’s and 

Women’s. 

Rugby Sevens was recently announced as 

the newest sport to be added to the 2016 

Olympic Games fixture, with interest in 

the sport growing rapidly in Australia and 

around the world. 

The City’s Major Events Manager, 

Terry Karamaloudis with Melbourne 

Rebels player, Conor Daly and Melbourne 

Rebels Manager of Game Development 

and Elite Sevens, Tyronne Mitchell. 

“This is going to be Victoria’s 

largest ever Rugby Sevens 

tournament, with teams from 

Victoria, South Australia, the 

ACT and around the world set to 

compete” 

Melbourne Rebels’ Manager of Game 

Development and Elite Sevens Tyronne Mitchell 

is excited to be bringing this growing sport to 

one of Victoria’s richest sporting regions. 

“We’ve noticed such a huge demand in 

Victorian’s wanting to learn about and play 

Sevens since the Olympic announcement, so 

I’m really thrilled to be working with the City 

of Greater Bendigo and the local Rugby Club, 

the Bendigo Fighting Miners, to bring this 

tournament to the area,” Tyronne said. 

“This is going to be Victoria’s largest ever 

Rugby Sevens tournament, with teams from 

Victoria, South Australia, the ACT and around 

the world set to compete.” 

Tyronne also praised the support of the City, 

who have been instrumental in coordinating 

the event, and is encouraging locals to get 

involved. 

“The effort of the Major Events and Active 

Communities departments in helping us put 

together this event has been incredible, and 

the entire Community department here at 

the Rebels is very thankful to them for giving 

us this opportunity. 

“I’d really encourage Bendigo locals with an 

interest in Rugby, or simply a love of sport to 

come down to watch the tournament. Rugby 

Sevens is a really fast, exciting game and it’s 

awesome to watch. 

“We’re also looking for support from local 

businesses, with sponsorship and 

partnership opportunities available for this 

wonderful event with national reach.” 

City Major Events Manager, Terry 

Karamaloudis, said Bendigo is excited to 

host the Goldfields Sevens Tournament and 

showcase the latest sport to be included in 

the Olympic Games. 

“Having such great, quality facilities such 

as the Epsom Huntly Regional Recreation 

Reserve that can be used for a multitude of 

sports has been instrumental in attracting 

this event to Bendigo. 

“The City is working hard to attract a 

diverse range of sporting and other major 

events to our region. It’s great for our local 

economy and it provides a diverse range of 

opportunities for residents to be exposed to 

different sports. 

“We look forward to hosting over 30 national 

and international teams to Bendigo later this 

year.” 

Teams can enter the event on the Melbourne 

Rebels website www.melbournerebels.com. 

au with registrations closing on September 

30, 2015. 

Settling the score 

Scores will now be settled digitally at White 

Hills Recreation Reserve following the 

installation of a new electronic score board. 

White Hills Football Netball Club contributed 

$10,000 towards the purchase of a new 

scoreboard, while the City provided $60,000 

in funding. 

City Active and Healthy Communities 

Manager, Patrick Jess, said the City was 

pleased to assist the clubs to receive new 

scoreboards. 

“The City is committed to maintaining and 

upgrading its sports grounds and has been 

steadily assisting clubs over the past few 

years to install electronic scoreboards,” 

Patrick said. 

“Safety is a top priority, so it is great 

volunteers no longer have to climb ladders 

to reach the scoreboards or sit in bad 

weather. 

“The new scoreboards also offer clubs an 

opportunity to attract sponsorship and 

display advertising, providing them with an 

additional income stream.” 

30 



Our local economy 

Pictured above: Radius Disability 

Services reps Pater Young and 

Zachary Taig, City’s Economic 

Development Officer, Kendyl Hopley 

and B Keogh & Sons Chief Executive 

Officer, John Manning in Keogh’s 

freshly cleaned workshop. 

Businesses benefit from accreditation program 

Local organisation Radius Disability Services 

has benefitted from a City program to assist 

local manufacturers to gain accreditation 

and compete for major government works 

and projects. 

Six local firms, including B Keogh & Sons, 

are currently participating in Quality 

Management accreditation programs, 

funded under the State Government’s 

Manufacturing Productivity Networks 

(MPN) program, that offer support to local 

small and medium sized businesses and 

manufacturers. 

As part of the program, audits are required to 

be undertaken on each of the participating 

businesses premises. 

To meet this program requirement B Keogh 

and Sons engaged Radius Disability Services 

to assist with the clean out and sorting of 

redundant, surplus and obsolete stock 

and scrap plant and equipment from their 

Eaglehawk premises. 

“I would encourage other 

companies to consider using 

organisations such as Radius for 

special projects like this” 

B Keogh & Sons Manager John Manning said 

his company was pleased to provide the 

clean-up work to Radius, who did a great job. 

“Accreditation is fast becoming a prerequisite 

required by governments and businesses 

in both the domestic and global markets 

to ensure competiveness and compliance 

with contemporary standards of safety and 

quality in production processes. 

“By partnering with Radius we were able to 

prepare our premises for the audit. It was a 

win-win situation. We got some great help 

cleaning up and the Radius staff got some 

great experience. 

“I would encourage other companies 

to consider using organisations such as 

Radius for special projects like this,” John 

said. 

City Economic Development Unit Manager 

Brian Gould said the Quality Management 

accreditation program is provided by 

the City’s Economic Development Unit, 

with financial support from the State 

Government. 

The six businesses involved are B Keogh & 

Sons, Jimmy Possum, Australian Turntable 

Company, Riches Auto Refinishers, Harrower 

Tube Bending and Universal Manufacturing 

Australia. 

“The program is assisting these local 

manufacturers to develop and execute 

business management systems to ensure 

they are producing quality products in a 

sustainable way. It will also help them to 

win work and contracts from national and 

international companies that require these 

standards. 

“The Economic Development Unit is looking 

forward to seeing the participating firms reap 

many benefits by undertaking the program 

and it’s great to also see groups like Radius 

benefitting as well.” 


Your Councillors 

What’s on 

September 

16-27 Aerobics Australia Championships and AEROSchools Competition and 

National Gymnastics Club Carnival 

Bendigo Stadium, Flora Hill Stadium and Ulumbarra Theatre 

October 

1-4 Calisthenics Victoria State Championships 

Ulumbarra Theatre 

6-9 Elmore Field Days 

Elmore Events Centre 

9-11 Victorian Schools Cycling Championships 

(BMX/Mountain Bike/Road) 

Bendigo BMX Club, Spring Gully Reserve 

and Bendigo CBD 

10-11 Netball Victoria State Titles 

Golden City Netball Courts (near Bendigo Stadium) 

Mayor Cr Peter Cox 

T: 5434 6189 

M: 0427 318 490 

E: p.cox@bendigocouncillors.org.au 

Cr James Williams 

T: 5434 6208 

M: 0427 211 677 

E: j.williams@bendigocouncillors.org.au 

Cr Lisa Ruffell 

T: 5434 6206 

M: 0429 946 171 

E: l.ruffell@bendigocouncillors.org.au 

9-10 Bendigo Wealth Heritage Uncorked 

Various heritage buildings in Bendigo’s CBD 

10-11 Heathcote Wine and Food Festival 

Heathcote Showgrounds 

28 2015 Jayco Bendigo Cup 

Bendigo Racecourse 

October 31 - 

November 1 

November 

Australia’s Strongest Man Competition incorporating 

the Bendigo Fitness Weekend 

Tom Flood Sports Centre 

5-8 Bendigo Blues & Roots Music Festival 

Various locations across Bendigo 

8-15 William Loud Bendigo International Women’s Pro Tour 

Bendigo Bank Tennis Complex 

14-15 Bendigo Swap Meet 

Bendigo Showgrounds 

Cr Mark Weragoda 

T: 5434 6192 

M: 0400 363 586 

E: m.weragoda@bendigocouncillors.org.au 

Cr Helen Leach 

T: 5434 6190 

M: 0419 549 574 

E: h.leach@bendigocouncillors.org.au 

Cr Rod Campbell 

T: 5434 6203 

M: 0427 514 429 

E: r.campbell@bendigocouncillors.org.au 

For more details visit www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/events 

Contact us 

City of Greater Bendigo 

195-229 Lyttleton Terrace, Bendigo 

Postal PO Box 733, Bendigo 3552 

Telephone 5434 6000 

Hearing or speech impaired? 

Call us via the National Relay Service on 133 677 

Fax 5434 6200 

Email requests@bendigo.vic.gov.au 

Website www.bendigo.vic.gov.au 

After Hours/Emergency Number 

5434 6000 

Operating Hours (Main Office) 

8.30am - 5pm, Monday to Friday 

Executive Management Team 

Craig Niemann 

Chief Executive Officer 

Pauline Gordon 

Director, Community Wellbeing 

Stan Liacos 

Director, City Futures 

Ross Douglas (acting) 

Director, Presentation and Assets 

Darren Fuzzard (interim) 

Director, Organisation Support 

Prue Mansfield 

Director, Planning and Development 

Cr Barry Lyons 

T: 5434 6215 

M: 0429 292 084 

E: b.lyons@bendigocouncillors.org.au 

Cr Elise Chapman 

T: 5434 6193 

M: 0418 330 289 

E: e.chapman@bendigocouncillors.org.au 

Cr Rod Fyffe 

T: 5443 7673 

M: 0419 874 015 

E: r.fyffe@bendigocouncillors.org.au 

Councillor emails like other correspondence are the property of the 

City of Greater Bendigo and may be referred to a staff member for 

action. As with any correspondence, if you would like emails to be 

kept private and confidential please place “private and confidential” 

in the subject line. 

32

GB Magazine September 2015

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