GB Magazine September 2016

Greater Bendigo 

September 2016 

Explore 

Maticevski’s 

Dark Wonderland 

pages 6-7 

inside 

Budget 2016/2017 

page 3 

What I love about Greater 

Bendigo: Kangaroo Flat 

pages 18-19 

Made in Bendigo 

pages 22-23

5 WeHeartBendigo, yes we do! 

6 Maticevski’s 20 year career on display 

8 Reconciliation Plan adopted 

Community members appointed 

to Disability Inclusion Reference 

Committee 

9 Young artists celebrated through RAW 

Arts Awards 

Prepare now and ease the burden for 

the fire danger period 

10 Grants helping community groups 

11 Volunteering – a critical service 

12 Independent Review of the City 

complete 

Do you know the next Greater Bendigo 

Citizen of the Year? 

13 What’s in the works? 

14 Airport project over halfway mark 

Work underway at the aquatic and 

stadium sites 

15 New sports facilities for Maiden Gully 

Upgrade for Kennington Recreation 

Reserve courts 

16 Green light for final stage of Barrack 

Reserve redevelopment 

New cricket facilities at North Bendigo 

Recreation Reserve 

17 Slide on down to Cooinda Park 

New pavilion for Canterbury Park 

18 What I love about Greater Bendigo: 

Kangaroo Flat 

20 Organics – the right and smart thing to 

do! 

21 MASH solar bulk buy 

Environmental Upgrade Agreements for 

businesses 

22 Made in Bendigo 

24 New online forum to support local 

business 

GrantGuru helps local businesses 

to find funding 

25 Marilyn success 

A unified approach for transport 

projects 

26 New Tourism Plan for Bendigo region 

27 Get set for a festival of fashion and art 

28 What’s on 

Council elections, farewelling Marilyn and 

organics waste collection to start 

By Craig Niemann, 

Chief Executive Officer 

Welcome to the September 2016 edition 

of GB Magazine. I hope you enjoy reading 

the latest news from the City of Greater 

Bendigo. 

October 22 is the date for the next Council 

election. The elections are conducted 

by the Victorian Electoral Commission 

on behalf of all municipalities and will 

again be by postal vote. It is expected the 

first Council meeting will be held in early 

November and the Mayor will also be 

installed at this meeting. 

In July we said goodbye to the Marilyn 

Monroe exhibition at the Bendigo Art 

Gallery, which attracted 143,500 people, 

and the Forever Marilyn sculpture that 

attracted untold numbers throughout 

the day and night. This was the first time 

we have featured public art alongside 

a blockbuster exhibition and she was a 

great drawcard that brought a lot of joy to 

residents and visitors. 

I am really proud of how the organisation 

supported the exhibition. As well as our 

gallery team curating the world-first 

exhibition, our tourism department 

marketed Bendigo beautifully and that 

meant that not only local residents 

but people from across Victoria and 

interstate visited our city and supported 

the economy in some way. Ticket sales 

to view the exhibition and participate in 

Marilyn-themed events were coordinated 

by Capital Venues & Events. I would 

also like to make particular mention of 

our wonderful tourism and art gallery 

volunteers that ensured all visitors had 

a great experience and thank you to 

everyone who took the opportunity to see 

the exhibition. 

September will see the City roll out its new 

organics service. Research has shown that 

one in every five bags of food we bring 

home from the supermarket is eventually 

thrown out without being eaten. Currently, 

that food goes straight to land fill and 

creates methane gas and other harmful 

greenhouse gases that contribute to global 

warming. 

We expect that by introducing the organics 

waste service about 12,000 tonnes of 

organic waste, the equivalent of 1,500 full 

garbage trucks, will be saved from going to 

landfill each year. 

The decision to introduce an organics 

waste collection service is the right thing to 

do for our environment. You will be able to 

dispose of cooked and uncooked 

food scraps including vegetable 

peelings, teabags, coffee 

grounds, paper towel, tissues, 

fish, cooked foods, bones, meat 

and garden waste. This waste will 

be recycled into compost for use 

on parks and gardens, proving 

what you throw away can 

grow another day! 

On the cover: 

Maticevski Resort 2015 

Lookbook, Star Shade 

Top and Filament 

Longline Skirt (detail) 

Photographer Duncan 

Killick 

Greater Bendigo Magazine is printed on 

Australian recycled paper. 

The City of Greater Bendigo and Southern Cross Austereo are 

working together to provide free marketing of community and 

not for profit events through My Community Connect. 

Advertise your event for free or find out what’s happening in your 

area at www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/events and 

www.mycommunityconnect.com.au 

And love the local life. 

2 


www.bendigo.vic.gov.au

Budget 2016/2017 

This year’s Budget includes a record $100M 

for capital and major project works, while 

the $156.1M operating Budget will continue 

to fund critical services to our community. 

The Budget includes funding for important 

infrastructure projects that will have 

significant benefits for the whole of Greater 

Bendigo. 

The Budget advances the priorities outlined 

in the Council Plan 2013-2017; leadership 

and governance, planning for growth, 

presentation and vibrancy, productivity 

and sustainability. As this is the final year 

of the current Council term, the focus of 

this Budget is completion of our current 

commitments. 

The Budget includes a rate increase 

of 2.5 per cent. This is in line with the 

Victorian Government’s new Fair Go 

Rates System, which has capped rates 

increases by Victorian councils. Rates, fees 

and user charges, and State and Federal 

Government grants and funding will allow 

the City to deliver its program of projects 

and services. 

The operating Budget will continue to fund 

important community services including 

maternal and child health services, youth 

services, home support services, childcare, 

tourism and visitor services, economic 

development, the Bendigo Art Gallery, The 

Capital and Ulumbarra, street cleaning, 

maintaining parks, gardens and recreation 

facilities, rubbish and recycling collection, 

statutory planning and strategy. 

This Budget includes significant funding 

for large scale projects that benefit the 

wider Greater Bendigo community, while 

money has also been allocated for smaller 

projects to maintain and upgrade key 

infrastructure and assets like roads and 

footpaths and providing ongoing services 

to the community. 

Major Budget initiatives 

• $9.2M for the Bendigo Airport Project 

(including $5M in Federal and State 

Government funding) 

• $25.7M for the Greater Bendigo 

Indoor Aquatic and Wellbeing Centre 

(including $15.3M in contributions 

from the State and Federal 

Governments) 

• $14M for the Bendigo Stadium major 

expansion (including $5M in State 

Government funding and a major 

contribution from the Bendigo 

Stadium Limited) 

• $2.7M for the Strathfieldsaye Early 

Learning Community Hub 

• $1.8M for the Barrack Reserve 

pavilion redevelopment 

• $4M for the construction of the 

Bendigo Tennis Centre pavilion 

(including $3M from the State 

Government) 

• $2.4M for the Garden for the Future at 

the Bendigo Botanic Gardens, White 

Hills 

Capital works 

• $2M for new footpaths across the 

municipality 

• $13.9M sealed roads renewal 

• $3.9M drainage maintenance 

• $3.3M reconstruction of the Scott 

Street Bridge in White Hills 

• $1.1M maintenance of heritage 

buildings 

Operating Budget 

• $2.5M Community Services (including 

aged care, maternal and child health, 

long day care and disability services) 

• $11.2M Parks 

• $12M Works (including footpaths and 

road maintenance) 

• $2M Major Events 

• $2.2M Tourism 

• $12.5M Waste 

• $4.3M Active and Healthy 

Communities 

• $2.7M Statutory Planning 

• $2.2M Capital Venues & Events 

• $2.3M Bendigo Art Gallery 

Sport and Recreation 

• $275,000 for new nets at the Bendigo 

Cricket Club 

• $300,000 for the design and 

construction of shade shelter at the 

Queen Elizabeth Oval 

• $400,000 for swimming pool 

maintenance 

• $200,000 for the design of the Garden 

Gully Community Pavilion (hockey 

facility) 

• $350,000 for the construction of the 

Canterbury Park social pavilion 

• $170,000 for lighting at the 

Strathfieldsaye Junior Football oval 

• $129,000 for storage and car parking 

upgrades to the Epsom Huntly 

Recreation Reserve 

Rate increase 

This year Council rates are capped to 2.5 per 

cent. To meet the rate cap for 2016/2017, 

Council has set a rate in the dollar of 0.40424 

for general rate properties. 

This figure is then multiplied by the Capital 

Improved Value (CIV) of each property to 

determine how much the property owner 

will pay. 

For example, the rates calculation for a 

residential property valued at $330,000 is: 

$330,000 x 0.40424 = $1,334.00 

(excluding bin charge) 

Every two years Council is required to 

revalue every rateable property in Greater 

Bendigo and 2016 is a revaluation year. Your 

rates are based on your property value, so 

changes to your property’s value will impact 

on the amount of rates you pay. 

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

1 

Open section joint winners: 

1 Victoria Hill, by Ross Jardine 

“The mining heritage in Bendigo has shaped 

our city from the poppet heads to the grand 

buildings. Victoria Hill.” 

2 Man and his shed, by Kellie Flavell 

“Frank has lived in Lily Street for 85 years. 

Worked at Ragget’s bakery, Ordnance factory, 

an avid gardener. Has amazing stories about the 

local goldfields.” 

Under 16 section joint winners: 

3 Camp Hill School, by Sarah Maggs 

“I love Bendigo’s heritage because it’s the 

history and growth the city has become. I 

admire the tiny details everyday in the buildings 

and gardens.” 

4 The Muni, by William Penbrook 

“‘The Muni’, municipal baths and water supply 

for Rosalind Park, now a rich ‘Water Detectives’ 

discovery site for Camp Hill Primary School 

environmental studies program.” 

4 



WeHeartBendigo, yes we do! 

Greater Bendigo people love our community’s 

heritage buildings, people and places. 

3 

The City of Greater Bendigo’s 

WeHeartBendigo photo competition 

celebrated magnificent local heritage 

assets and attracted more than 100 

entries. 

The photos capture our beautiful 

streetscapes with buildings dating 

back to the gold rush, old mining 

infrastructure, the trams that rattle 

down Pall Mall, the Chinese precinct 

that highlights our diverse history and 

the people that shape our community. 

City Heritage Planner Dr Dannielle Orr 

thanked everyone for their entries. 

“We have been really pleased with 

the entries we have received. Greater 

Bendigo is such a vibrant region that 

has enthusiastically embraced its 

history and many people have worked 

to ensure that it is preserved,” Dr Orr 

said. 

“These pictures brilliantly highlight 

Greater Bendigo’s past, present and 

future, reminding us to continue our 

efforts to conserve and celebrate our 

heritage assets however we can.” 

Prizes were awarded for ‘Pick of the 

week’, best photo taken by someone 

under 16 years of age and in the ‘Open’ 

category. 

The City was pleased to partner with 

the Greater Bendigo Heritage Advisory 

Committee and IHeartBendigo on this 

project. 

2 

4 


20 YEAR CAREER 

ON DISPLAY 

Bendigo Art Gallery’s current exhibition 

Maticevski: Dark Wonderland features a range of 

objects from the renowned Australian fashion 

designer’s early practice through to his most 

recent creations. Highlights include the Monaco 

Gown worn by Crown Princess Mary to the 

80th birthday celebration of her father-in-law 

Prince Henrik of Denmark and the specially 

commissioned gold lamé gown worn by Jessica 

Mauboy for Eurovision 2014. 

“For anyone who has ever dreamed 

of wearing a masterpiece, this is a 

must-see exhibition” 

Toni Maticevski has achieved world-wide 

acclaim for his masterful approach to the 

manipulation of traditional fashion silhouettes 

and innovative use of materials, colour, texture 

and fabrics. 

It is the first time in his celebrated twenty 

year career that Toni Maticevski has opened 

up his archives for an exhibition that reveals 

the beauty and breadth of his body of work 

and the collections that have made him an 

international fashion icon. 

Maticevski: Dark Wonderland has been curated 

by Bendigo Art Gallery and celebrates the 

designer’s unique skill in dressing the human 

form, his obsessive attention to detail and 

his continued interest in tailoring, line and 

reinventing classic forms and techniques. 

Since he first launched his label in 1999, 

Toni Maticevski’s garments have been worn 

by revered fashion icons and featured in 

some of the world’s most prestigious fashion 

magazines. Yet he retains a strong hands-on 

approach to his work, draping and sampling 

his designs himself, balancing a ready-to-wear 

label alongside a bespoke practice that caters 

to one-off commissions. 

Bendigo Art Gallery Director Karen Quinlan said 

Toni Maticevski has managed to morph, adapt 

and defy the boundaries of fashion, crossing 

the line that divides fashion design with fine 

art. 

“For anyone who has ever dreamed of wearing 

a masterpiece, this is a must-see exhibition,” Ms 

Quinlan said. 

Maticevski: Dark Wonderland is on display at 

Bendigo Art Gallery until November 20, 2016. 

This is a ticketed exhibition, to book visit 

www.bendigoartgallery.com.au 

6 



Clockwise from top left 

Toni Maticevski’s: 

- Doona Dress AW 2007/2008 (detail) 

Photographer:Justin Edward John 

Smith 

Image: Australian paper campaign 

by 3 Deep 

- Dress from C.2004 

Dominic Hsieh Photography 

- Doona Dresses from Fall 2007/2008 

Photo: Georges Antoni 


Working with our community 

Community members 

appointed to 

Disability Inclusion 

Reference Committee 

Twelve members of the Greater Bendigo community have 

been appointed to the City of Greater Bendigo’s newly 

established Disability Inclusion Reference Committee. 

Lyn Hartland, Andrew Barrett, Jessica Stone, Margaret Harvey, 

Sharyn Laugher and Robert Colbourne were appointed for a 

period of one year. 

Tristan Coote, Sara McQueenie, Daniel Giles, Helen Reimers, 

Anne Maree Davis and Jane Worsley-Allot were appointed for 

a two year term. 

“Collectively the committee members have 

excellent knowledge of disability inclusion, 

leadership and advocacy skills as well as 

connections with the wider community” 

Reconciliation 

Plan adopted 

The City of Greater Bendigo recently adopted 

its first Reconciliation Plan. 

The Plan outlines the actions that the City 

will undertake to contribute to reconciliation 

between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander 

Australians and non-Indigenous Australians. 

The Plan is based on the themes of respect, 

relationships and opportunities, and aims to 

help Greater Bendigo to become Australia’s 

most liveable regional city. 

It will help strengthen relationships between 

the City and Aboriginal and Torres Strait 

Islander residents and Traditional Owners 

and contribute to reconciliation across all 

City functions. 

Some of the actions outlined in the Plan 

include: 

• Implementing cultural awareness training 

for Councillors and staff 

• Developing a proposal for Taungurung 

and Dja Dja Wurrung Traditional Owner 

group Welcome to Country signage at 

key entry points to the Greater Bendigo 

municipality 

• Partnering with Bendigo District Aboriginal 

Cooperative to run quarterly community 

engagement meetings with Aboriginal and 

Torres Strait Islander residents 

• Increasing opportunities for Aboriginal 

and Torres Strait Islander engagement 

and employment within the organisation 

• Promoting the integration of local and 

regional Aboriginal and Torres Strait 

Islander art and programs into exhibitions 

at the Bendigo Art Gallery 

The City has already begun implementing 

the Plan by flying the Torres Strait Islander 

flag on a permanent basis at the Bendigo 

Town Hall. 

All 12 members are people with disabilities, carers for people 

with disabilities or involved in groups that support people 

with disabilities. 

They will be joined by five representatives from the City, 

including one Councillor. 

The Committee will provide advice to Council and undertake 

initiatives that support greater social inclusion for people with 

a disability. 

The City’s Senior Disability Officer Jolie Middleton said the City 

wanted to create a community where everyone felt valued and 

had an opportunity to participate in community life. 

“We were pleased to receive a large number of strong 

applications for membership of the committee,” Ms Middleton 

said. 

“Collectively the committee members have excellent 

knowledge of disability inclusion, leadership and advocacy 

skills as well as connections with the wider community. 

“We thank these community members for volunteering their 

time and expertise to help make our City more inclusive and 

accessible for everyone. 

“This Committee will assist us to make Greater Bendigo 

Australia’s most liveable regional city for all residents.” 

The Committee will meet every two months. 

For more information about the Committee email 

dirc@bendigo.vic.gov.au or visit www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/disability 

View the plan at www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/reconciliation 

8 



Young artists celebrated through RAW Arts Awards 

The talents of young local artists 

were highlighted and rewarded at 

the City of Greater Bendigo’s RAW 

Arts Awards and exhibition, which 

took place at Dudley House earlier 

this year. 

The RAW Arts Awards were first held 

in 1997 and have gone on to be an 

important annual initiative designed 

to support local young people and 

provide opportunities for a diverse 

and vibrant local arts and cultural 

program. 

Through the awards young people 

get to profile their work, receive 

public and financial recognition, and 

support for further studies in their 

chosen arts field. This year’s awards 

attracted 107 entries from young 

people aged from seven to 23 years 

of age. 

The City provides four $1,000 cash 

scholarships and four $250 highly 

commended prizes across the visual 

arts, literature, digital media and 

performing arts disciplines. 

There are some talented emerging 

artists in Greater Bendigo. The City 

congratulates all of the artists who 

entered the 2016 RAW Arts Awards 

and those who took home prizes this 

year. 

Literature Award 

Winner: Caitlin Bissett 

Highly Commended: John Henry 

Performing Arts Scholarship 

Winner: Evangeline Matthews 

Highly Commended: Sean Nudl 

Visual Arts Award 

Winner: Indi Wild (pictured) 

Highly Commended: Olivier Ueno 

Digital Media Prize 

Winner: Adam Hartshorn 

Highly Commended: 

Tristan Gillett-Oerlemans 

Prepare now 

and ease the 

burden for the 

fire danger 

period 

With plenty of rain and green growth, 

the City of Greater Bendigo is advising 

property owners and residents not to wait 

until grass and weeds are high to reduce 

fire hazards, particularly if land is rocky or 

steep. 

Municipal Fire Prevention Officer Sue 

Moses said planning now could save a lot 

of effort and expense later in the season. 

“Alternate methods to reduce the growth of 

grass and weeds can be particularly useful 

in areas that are hard to access with a 

mower or slasher,” Ms Moses said. 

“Long grass on these sites can result in the 

need to use a brush-cutter, which can be 

hard physical labour. If you receive a fire 

prevention notice later in the year, it could 

then be expensive to engage a contractor 

to remove the growth. 

“Grazing or spraying with a suitable weed 

killer can stop the grass and weeds from 

growing. There are a variety of weed killers 

and several that when used at the right 

time and on the right plant species will 

also protect native grasses. 

“A long term plan can be to eliminate 

introduced grass species that grow long 

and thick by re-seeding with native grasses 

that are more sparse and lower in height. 

“Also, think about developing a plan for 

your land to reduce fire risk and protect 

and restore natural habitat. Consider 

speaking to an expert in your community 

or an agricultural adviser/consultant or 

agronomist, if you require advice.” 

Winter is the ideal time to plan your 

pre-summer clean-up, including clearing 

hazardous vegetation and flammable items 

from around the house, cleaning gutters 

and preparing a good fire and emergency 

plan. A good plan can serve you well for 

any emergency event that may impact your 

property or community. 

If you own vacant land you have a 

responsibility to ensure it is well kept and 

does not present a fire risk to neighbouring 

properties. 

For more information on how to 

prepare your property visit the 

CFA website, call your local fire 

brigade or City Municipal Fire 

Prevention Officer Sue Moses on 

5434 6156. 


The Bendigo Fibromyalgia 

Peer Support Group doing 

tai chi. 

Grants helping community groups 

The City of Greater Bendigo’s Community Grants 

Program is a great way for community groups to 

gain access to critical funding to support their 

initiatives. 

The Program has two funding rounds throughout 

the year and usually attracts a significant number 

of applications. 

Funding is available across a range of different 

categories: active and healthy communities, arts, 

community development, community events, 

environmental sustainability, and print and digital 

publications. 

There are also Quick Response Grants, which are 

reserved for urgent needs that may arise outside 

of the Community Grants funding rounds. 

The City’s Acting Community Wellbeing 

Director Michael Smyth said the grants were an 

opportunity for community groups to develop 

projects that complemented the City’s priorities. 

“The funding allows many not-for-profit 

community groups to hold events, buy equipment 

and run programs,” Mr Smyth said. 

“These initiatives have lots of positive flow-on 

effects and help to make Greater Bendigo a great 

place to live, work and visit.” 

The next round of the City’s Community Grants 

Program opens in February. 

For more information go to 

www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/grants 

Grant recipients tell their story... 

Bendigo Fibromyalgia Peer Support 

Group 

Category - Active and Healthy 

Communities $2,500 

We’ve probably got around 30 to 40 

members. We applied for funding 

to train four of our members to be 

able to teach tai chi to the rest of the 

group. Two have already been trained 

and another two will be trained in 

November. 

We are now able to offer tai chi once a 

week at a very low cost. 

Fibromyalgia comes under one of the 

many forms of arthritis. It’s a fatiguing 

condition but it’s also a painful 

condition. We try to get our members 

positive and moving, and hopefully that 

helps them feel better. 

Exercise gives you a better sense of self 

and a positive outlook. It’s taken a long 

time to get where we are but it’s a really 

good outcome. 

Epsom Community Church 

Category - Community Events $1,000 

We used our grant, along with a grant 

from the Baptist Union of Victoria, to 

organise a Community Christmas Carols 

event in December. We had about 100 

people attend. It was a wonderful night 

(despite the very hot weather!), with 

great carols and face painting for the 

kids. I don’t think getting the event up 

and running would have been possible 

had we not received this grant. 

Campaspe Valley Landcare Group 

Category - Environmental Sustainability 

$4,470 

We used our grant to undertake a 

community planting to educate 

members about planting indigenous 

undergrowth plants. We want to help 

our farmers revegetate parts of their 

land to have both large trees and 

indigenous undergrowth such as 

wattles, acacias and melaleucas. 

The grant allowed us to plant 1,500 

trees and then host a community 

inspection of the planting area, with 

a presentation on the various species 

by a local tree supplier. Our members 

supplied tractor ripping and labour. 

We were really pleased with what we 

achieved thanks to the grant and we 

hope to apply for another one in the 

future. 

Bendigo District RSL 

Category - Print and Digital Publications 

$3,700 

We were approached by two sisters 

who had researched their father Ronald 

Morrell’s history in WWII and who was 

also a previous secretary of the RSL. 

They had put together a whole lot of 

information for a brochure and they 

didn’t have the money to publish it, and 

they came to us. 

They asked us to sponsor a grant 

application through the City’s 

Community Grants Program. 

It’s a booklet on what he did in the war 

and then after he returned home and 

became the secretary of the RSL. 

The booklet is now at the printer and 

will soon be finished. It’s not something 

we would normally do but it has been 

really successful. We’ve got plenty of 

sub committees that should apply for 

these grants in the future. 

10 



Volunteering 

– a critical service 

More than 580 people volunteer for the City of 

Greater Bendigo. 

The City’s volunteers are critical to delivering 

many services to the community. These 

volunteers contribute approximately 2,500 

hours per month or more than 30,000 hours 

per year. 

The City has volunteers involved in the 

areas of home support services, Bendigo Art 

Gallery and Post Office Gallery, The Capital, 

Bendigo and Heathcote Visitor Information 

Centres, Bendigo Easter Festival and other 

major and community events, youth 

services, landcare and the environment, 

community and cultural development and 

recreation and sport. 

Volunteering is a great way to meet new 

people, give back to your community and 

learn new skills. The City is always looking 

for new volunteers, so if you are interested 

please put your hand up. 

For more information contact the City on 

5434 6000 or go to www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/ 

volunteer 

Volunteer: 

Nola Dolman - Bendigo Visitor Centre 

Nola Dolman has been a tourist 

information volunteer for 23 years. 

She has the Friday morning shift at 

the Bendigo Visitor Centre and spends 

her time assisting the many visitors 

that come through the centre to 

explore Bendigo. She volunteers for 

the companionship and to help the 

community. 

A Bendigo resident for 48 years, Nola 

knows the city well and enjoys assisting 

visitors with directions and advice about 

things to see and do while in town. 

She started volunteering because her 

family “had grown up a bit and it was 

something to help the community”. 

She started volunteering at the visitor 

information booth in Charing Cross and 

then later at Rotary Park in Kangaroo 

Flat. Nineteen years ago the Bendigo 

Visitor Centre moved into the old post 

office building on Pall Mall and she has 

watched tourism grow rapidly in that 

time. “It’s gone from 20 people a day out 

at Kangaroo Flat to 20 people here at 

one time,” Nola said. 

She used to volunteer alone, now she 

is one of a team of three to four people 

on at any one time because “that’s how 

busy it has got”. 

She likes showing visitors some of the 

many gifts that are for sale at the Visitor 

Centre and having a chat with them. 

“They’re on holidays, they like to have a 

bit of a chat about where they’re from,” 

Nola said. 

“This [the centre] is marvellous- one of 

the best I think in Victoria - as good as 

you get”. 

Volunteer: 

Roy Knight - Planned Activity Group, Volunteer Visitor 

Service, Red Cross and Meals on Wheels 

In his own words, Roy Knight “doesn’t 

mind helping people out”. 

The 79 year old currently volunteers 

for three different services. Roy 

volunteers at the Planned Activity 

Group on Tuesdays and Fridays, for 

the Volunteer Visitor Service on every 

second Wednesday and is a volunteer 

driver for the Red Cross on Thursdays. 

“You have a laugh with them 

and you have a bit of fun” 

He also fills in for Meals on Wheels 

whenever he is needed. 

In the week that he spoke to GB 

Magazine, he was busy volunteering 

every day from Monday to Friday. Roy 

has been volunteering for the City 

in various capacities for eight years. 

At one point he was doing Meals on 

Wheels every day. Now he is a bit 

stricter with his timetable but still in 

demand. “You’ve gotta get in early to 

get me,” he said. “People call on me 

whenever they want.” 

He said he first started volunteering 

after his retirement when his wife 

(who was a volunteer for 15 years) 

told him he couldn’t “sit around at 

home here doing nothing”. 

So he started as a volunteer transport 

driver for the City. He is often helping 

people out in small ways, like 

teaching Meals on Wheels clients how 

to heat their meals in the microwave. 

“You have a laugh with them and 

you have a bit of fun,” he said. But 

volunteering for services like Meals on 

Wheels can be more than a chat and 

a wholesome meal. 

He has delivered meals to houses 

when no one has answered the 

door and his alert has meant that a 

person who has had a fall or injured 

themselves has received the care they 

need. 

Having lived in Bendigo for most of 

his life, Roy knows all the short cuts to 

getting around town. He says this is 

important when it comes to delivering 

meals and transporting people to 

medical appointments. 

Patience is another skill needed to be 

a good volunteer. “I’ve got patience; 

I’ve got to have it,” he said. As he 

approaches his 80th birthday, Roy 

said he is considering cutting back on 

his volunteering commitments but is 

not likely to give up entirely! 


Independent Review 

of the City complete 

The final report on the implementation of 

the City of Greater Bendigo Independent 

Review has been complete. 

The Independent Review was undertaken 

in 2013 to see what improvements could be 

made to the City’s operations and included 

69 recommendations. 

“This process has embedded many 

new practices and approaches 

that will be ongoing, and there 

have been many improvements 

to the way the organisation does 

business” 

Do you know the 

next Greater 

Bendigo Citizen 

of the Year? 

It has created a more efficient and 

responsive, better-governed organisation 

equipped to engage with and meet the 

needs of its growing community. 

Chief Executive Officer Craig Niemann 

said the completion of the Independent 

Review did not mean an end to the City’s 

commitment to continued improvement. 

“This process has embedded many new 

practices and approaches that will be 

ongoing, and there have been many 

improvements to the way the organisation 

does business,” Mr Niemann said. 

“Thank you to all staff members and 

residents who have contributed to this 

process to ensure that our organisation 

can continue to perform at its best. I 

look forward to the organisation and the 

community benefitting from changes as a 

result of the Independent Review.” 

Nominations for the 2017 Greater 

Bendigo Citizen and Young Citizen of 

the Year Awards will open in October 

and residents are encouraged to 

nominate people who they think 

should be acknowledged through the 

awards. 

There are many living in Greater 

Bendigo who make outstanding 

or selfless contributions for their 

community service, career, sporting, 

academic achievements or service to 

arts, culture or the environment, and 

there is no better way to acknowledge 

their contribution. 

The Greater Bendigo Citizen Awards 

have been presented since 1995. They 

are the highest honour the City can 

award to a resident and nominating is 

easy. 

Actions on the Review’s findings and 

recommendations have resulted in: 

• Net savings are predicted to reach 

more than $4.2M for the four years to 

June 30, 2017 

• Significant improvements to the 

annual budget process including 

improved spending scrutiny 

measures, resulting in the removal of 

$3.67M of items from the 2016-2017 

budget 

• The retention and ‘refreshment’ 

of the City Futures Directorate 

as the City’s primary vehicle for 

driving Greater Bendigo’s economic 

development and jobs growth 

• Substantially increased support for 

small business 

• An overhaul of asset management 

resulting in: 

- An increase of approximately $5M in 

annual spending on asset renewal 

- An estimated $60M reduction in the 

forecast asset renewal funding gap 

over the next 10 years 

The implementation of the 

Independent Review has also 

embedded many new practices and 

approaches that will be of lasting 

benefit: 

• The introduction of a new 

Performance Evaluation System will 

track, benchmark and continuously 

improve the performance and 

output of Directorates, Units and 

individuals 

• The ongoing Service Review 

Program will reach all parts of the 

organisation to ensure the Council 

invests in the right services at the 

right standard and in the right way to 

get the best value 

• Significant improvements to 

the annual budget deliberation 

processes will provide ongoing 

savings through more rigorous 

assessment of expenditure items 

• The new framework for evaluating, 

prioritising and funding capital 

works will ensure limited funds 

go only to chosen projects to best 

reflect the needs and priorities of the 

community 

• Improved systems for logging, 

tracking and handling customer 

enquiries and complaints will ensure 

faster, more informative and more 

reliable responses, and help the 

organisation learn from customer 

feedback 

All you need to do is write in 250 

words what makes your nominee an 

outstanding community member, 

how they are role models for others 

to follow or how they have excelled 

or contributed to the Greater Bendigo 

community. 

Nominees for the Young Citizen of the 

Year must be under 25 years of age on 

January 26, 2017. Winners of the 2017 

awards will be announced in the lead 

up to Australia Day 2017. 

Nominations for the Bendigo Citizen 

and Young Citizen of the Year Awards 

will open on Monday October 17 and 

close on Friday November 18, 2016 and 

must be made online. 

Further information is available by 

contacting 5434 6000 or online at 

www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/citizenoftheyear 

12 



What’s in the works? 

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

The old timber bridge over Sheepwash creek in Tannery Lane, Mandurang has been 

replaced with a new concrete bridge. The new bridge is wider, includes a bicycle lane 

and has been raised to allow for higher rainfall. The project cost is $1.35M and works are 

nearing completion. 

Construction of a roundabout at the intersection of Olympic Parade and Mackenzie 

Street West, Kangaroo Flat is well underway. Works include pavement rehabilitation, 

improvements to drainage and widening of lanes to provide safety for both cyclists and 

motorists. The works are valued at $450,000 and are nearing completion. 

A 1.5 metre wide footpath renewal on the east side of Bignold Avenue between Lansell 

Street and Casey Street, East Bendigo is now complete. Total project cost is $52,000. 

Other works underway or completed: 

The construction of a 1.5 metre wide footpath along Specimen Hill Road, Golden Square 

will now link the existing footpath to the Spargo Street and Inglewood Street intersection. 

Works are valued at $110,000. 

• Menzies Court, Kangaroo Flat - road reconstruction 

• Carpenter Street, Kangaroo Flat - kerb renewal 

• Bowles Road, Epsom - road construction 

• Woodward Road, Golden Gully - drainage upgrade 

• Prouses Road, North Bendigo - road widening and wire rope 

• Furness Street, Kangaroo Flat - road reconstruction 

• Burnside Street, Eaglehawk - drainage upgrades 

• Reillys Road, Bagshot - bridge replacement 

• Station Street, Epsom - footpath construction 

• Heathcote-North Costerfield Road, Heathcote - road widening and 

wire rope 

A list of current works is available at 

www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/roadworks 


Major projects 

Airport 

project over 

halfway mark 

The redevelopment of the Bendigo Airport has 

passed the halfway mark and the new runway is 

taking shape. 

New pavement layers for the runway are currently 

being laid, which provide strength for passenger 

aircraft to land. The pavement seal will then be 

laid and state-of-the-art lighting will be installed. 

More than 75 local people have been employed 

over the life of the project and 260,000 cubic 

metres of dirt has been moved. 

Acting Presentation and Assets Director Ian 

Couper said the project was running to schedule 

and was on track to be finished in March 2017. 

“The new runway will provide an economic boost 

for Bendigo and better connect businesses to 

regional Australia and capital cities. It will also 

mean aircraft carrying up to 70 people will be able 

to land at the airport, opening up the opportunity 

for a regular public transport provider to be based 

at the airport,” Mr Couper said. 

Works at July 2016. 

Work underway at the aquatic and stadium sites 

The first sod has been turned at the site of 

the new Greater Bendigo Indoor Aquatic and 

Wellbeing Centre. 

Acting Presentation and Assets Director Ian 

Couper said the 50m, learn to swim and 

hydrotherapy pools and spa will soon start to 

take shape. 

“After excavation is complete, the next steps 

will be to bring the fabricated steel frame 

onsite and begin pouring the concrete, which 

will need to cure over the summer months. 

Of course, works are subject to weather and 

ensuring there are no hold ups with any early 

stages of the project,” Mr Couper said. 

“At this stage, electrical, earthworks, 

hydraulic and roof plumbing, cladding, 

mechanical/machinery and concrete trades 

will be provided by local companies, which 

is a fantastic outcome for our region’s 

economy.” 

Construction is also underway on the 

Bendigo Stadium expansion project. 

The first component of the project, the $2.5M 

revitalised netball precinct, was completed in 

June. This is the biggest investment in netball 

facilities in Greater Bendigo and included the 

delivery of nine new outdoor netball courts 

built to Netball Victoria standards, including 

four with lighting. 

When the entire stadium expansion project 

is complete, there will be a further three new 

outdoor netball courts and the Golden City 

Netball Association Inc. will fund lighting for 

another two courts, taking the total number 

to 12 outdoor netball courts and 10 indoor 

courts. 

Concept. 

14 



Playing in Greater Bendigo 

Marist College Bendigo principal Darren McGregor (above), Foreman Terry Jones, City Acting 

Manager Active and Healthy Communities Lincoln Fitzgerald (right) and Marist students inspect 

the community pavilion works underway. 

New sports facilities 

for Maiden Gully 

Maiden Gully residents will soon be able 

to enjoy new state of the art sports and 

recreation facilities at the shared-use Marist 

Community Recreation Precinct. 

The project is expected to be completed 

prior to the start of the 2017 school year and 

is a partnership between the City of Greater 

Bendigo and Marist College Bendigo, with 

each contributing $4M. 

The $8M project includes a community 

pavilion with a social room, meeting room, 

kiosk, commercial kitchen (to support home 

economics classes), four change rooms, an 

umpires change room and a single court 

stadium. 

The project will also deliver three combineduse 

tennis and netball courts. A senior oval, 

junior oval and car park have already been 

constructed. 

During school hours, Marist College Bendigo 

will use the facilities, while after 4pm and 

on weekends the facilities will be able to be 

used by the community. 

City Acting Manager Active and Healthy 

Communities Lincoln Fitzgerald said sharing 

costs reduced the cost to the community 

and improved the quality of facilities that the 

City could deliver. 

“Maiden Gully is one of the fastest growing 

residential areas in Greater Bendigo and the 

people living there will need access to great 

facilities like this,” Mr Fitzgerald said. 

“This partnership will provide high quality 

sports and community infrastructure to the 

whole of Maiden Gully for years to come.” 

Marist College Bendigo principal Darren 

McGregor said the facilities were designed to 

be shared. 

“This is a really exciting development not 

just for the school but for the Maiden Gully 

community.” 

Upgrade for Kennington 

Recreation Reserve courts 

Construction of new courts at 

Kennington Recreation Reserve is now 

underway. 

The $350,000 upgrade will see the 

creation of three new courts: one 

dedicated tennis-only court, two 

combined tennis and netball courts 

and the installation of lighting for all 

three courts. 

“The project will support 

growth in local tennis and 

netball participation” 

City of Greater Bendigo Acting Manager 

Active and Healthy Communities 

Lincoln Fitzgerald said the 

redevelopment would mean greater 

community use throughout the year 

and at night. 

“The project will support growth in local 

tennis and netball participation,” Mr 

Fitzgerald said. 

“Because the courts are combined use, 

they will be able to be used in both the 

summer and winter seasons. 

“The development of the project 

has included extensive community 

consultation with user groups, local 

residents and the Kennington Recreation 

Reserve Advisory Committee. 

“The project will also support the 

relocation of the South Bendigo 

Football Netball Club to the Kennington 

Recreation Reserve.” 

South Bendigo Football Netball Club 

president Rick Townsend said the 

club was currently in the process 

of transitioning to the Kennington 

Recreation Reserve from the Queen 

Elizabeth Oval. 

“The new courts will support the growing 

junior netball club, as well as senior 

games,” Mr Townsend said. 

“It will also make it easier for us to train 

and allow the whole club to play in one 

location.” 


arrack Reserve Re-development 

New cricket 

facilities at 

North Bendigo 

Recreation 

Reserve 

Green light for final stage of 

Barrack Reserve redevelopment 

Work on the final stage 

of the Barrack Reserve 

redevelopment is due to 

start before the end of 

the year. 

The project received $1.8M in the City of 

Greater Bendigo’s 2016/2017 Budget and 

$100,000 from the State Government. 

The project includes an upgrade 

and expansion of the main pavilion, 

adjacent change rooms and surrounding 

landscaping. 

“The pavilion will provide a 

multipurpose function room for 

the wider community to use, as 

well as upgraded facilities for 

sporting user groups” 

It also includes the installation of a new 

outdoor netball court and lighting. 

The redeveloped pavilion will include a 

new conference room, upgraded entry 

and foyer spaces, refurbished wet areas, 

a social room, refurbished multipurpose 

community room, a revamped 

timekeepers’ box, storage areas, a new 

kitchen/kiosk, upgraded football change 

rooms and upgraded umpire rooms. 


Communities Lincoln Fitzgerald said 

the upgraded pavilion would provide 

high-quality facilities for the Heathcote 

community. 

“The pavilion will provide a multipurpose 

function room for the wider community 

to use, as well as upgraded facilities for 

sporting user groups,” Mr Fitzgerald said. 

“It will allow netball to be played at the 

main reserve, as players currently use 

courts located across the road that are 

part of the tennis facility.” 

Barrack Reserve Committee of 

Management member Greg Speirs said 

Concept. 

the redevelopment would support 

the growth of football and netball in 

Heathcote. 

Concept. 

“Netball participation in Heathcote is 

growing and football continues to play an 

integral part in community life,” Mr Speirs 

said. 

“Barrack Reserve is such an important 

facility for Heathcote and this 

redevelopment will ensure it can remain 

so for many years into the future.” 

Construction of new cricket nets at the 

North Bendigo Recreation Reserve is 

expected to start by the end of the year. 

The State Government will contribute 

$100,000 to the project, the City of 

Greater Bendigo will provide $155,000 

and the Bendigo Cricket Club will 

contribute $20,000. 

This project will see the construction of 

a five net synthetic multipurpose facility, 

which will include netting that can be 

drawn back to create one large training 

area. 


Communities Lincoln Fitzgerald said the 

existing nets were in a state of disrepair 

and were not able to be used by the 

Club to hold training sessions. 

“North Bendigo is Bendigo Cricket Club’s 

home ground but they currently train at 

Garden Gully reserve, so the new nets 

will allow them to train at home,” Mr 

Fitzgerald said. 

“It will also be able to be used as a 

training area by the North Bendigo 

Football and Netball Club and Golden 

City Soccer Club during the winter 

months.” 

Bendigo Cricket Club President Andrew 

Gibbs said the club was excited to 

be able to train and play in the one 

location. 

“We are looking forward to working with 

the City to build a great facility for our 

community,” he said. 

The City has also installed a synthetic 

cricket pitch between the soccer pitches, 

to allow junior matches to be played at 

the reserve. 

Last year new flood lighting was 

installed at the North 

Bendigo Recreation 

Reserve for the 

AFL oval, the 

two netball 

courts and 

two soccer 

pitches. 

View - Multi Purpose Room Facing North 

16 


www.bendigo.vic.gov.au 

Barrack Reserve Redevelopment, Heathcote 

City of Greater Bendigo

Slide 

on down 

to Cooinda Park 

The giant slide is back, bigger and better than ever 

at popular Cooinda Park in Mackenzie Street West, 

Golden Square. 

The new 14-metre long blue and red slide, featuring 

four lanes and a 3.6 metre drop is providing lots of 

fun for people of all ages. 

Other improvements to Cooinda Park include the 

replacement of two junior multi-purpose play 

units featuring slides, monkey bars, track glides 

and other interactive play equipment. New rubber 

safety flooring was installed and landscaping 

undertaken to complete the project. 

The new $140,000 slide replaces the slide that was 

destroyed by fire in January this year. 

New pavilion for 

Canterbury Park 

The next phase of the Canterbury Park 

redevelopment is coming to life and is expected to be 

completed by April next year. 

This stage involves the construction of a new $2.2M 

community pavilion on the site of the old Eaglehawk 

Football clubrooms. 

The new pavilion will include a social room, kitchen, 

change rooms for the home team, trainers’ room, 

umpires’ change rooms, time keeper’s box, storage 

and publicly accessible toilets. 

City of Greater Bendigo Acting Manager Active and 

Healthy Communities Lincoln Fitzgerald said the 

Eaglehawk community had made a significant 

contribution of $160,000 towards this stage of the 

project. 

‘‘The pavilion will be home to junior and senior AFL, 

cricket and netball clubs,’’ Mr Fitzgerald said. 

‘‘The pavilion will also be able to be used by the 

community for functions and events. 

‘‘This will be a significant piece of community 

infrastructure that will be used for decades to come.’’ 

Last year works to develop a central activity area 

with new netball/tennis courts, a mixed-use pavilion, 

cricket nets and training area, synthetic bowling 

green, event space, roadway, car parking, footpaths 

and landscaping were completed. 

The heritage-listed Canterbury Park Grandstand was 

also refurbished. 


What I love about 


‘What I love about Greater Bendigo’ is a new 

series about people who are passionate about 

where they live. To kick off the series local 

identity Alan “Bezzo” Besley talks about his 

beloved Kangaroo Flat and what makes it such a 

special community. 

Kanga 

By Alan Besley 

From humble beginnings, Kangaroo Flat has 

become the southern gateway to Greater 

Bendigo with its vibrant retail, sport and 

education precincts. 

From the gold rush of the 1850s, where there 

were tent cities across the region, to the 

more permanent layout of structures and 

streetscapes of the 1880s, Kangaroo Flat is 

steeped in history. 

Now the region is reflecting change from that 

by-gone era. 

No longer is there a great need to travel 

several kilometres to the CBD in Bendigo 

for that special shopping treat. Over the last 

decade the changes to retail, education and 

transport have been significant. 

The traditional shopping strip in High Street 

will always retain specialty shops, banks and 

hotels. But there has also been intensified 

development in the immediate area. 

IGA and ALDI now offer great shopping near 

the High Street precinct and the education 

developments have also provided great 

change. 

The old Kangaroo Flat Primary School was 

bulldozed and replaced by the Bendigo 

Special Development School. 

New schools were developed on Olympic 

Parade with the establishment of Crusoe 

College and Kangaroo Flat Primary. Then we 

saw a massive redevelopment of St. Monica’s 

Primary and the Kangaroo Flat Sports Club. 

All these great facilities have attracted new 

residents to our region. 

The Calder Highway has been the big game 

changer. 

At the start of the decade the Council made 

a bold decision to remove dangerous gum 

trees at the southern end of the city and 

in conjunction with VicRoads developed a 

fabulous new entrance to the city. 

This has created enormous investment in the 

area especially in places like Lansell Square, 

the Rocklea Homemaker Centre, Kangaroo 

Flat Market, Bunnings and Poppett Head 

Estate, as well as the huge investment in 

several retirement villages all within walking 

distance of these great shopping venues. 

All of these developments have provided 

growth and jobs for our region. 

The $40M development of Lansell Square 

with key tenants like Woolworths, Coles 

and Kmart has been the catalyst for 

unprecedented growth in Kangaroo Flat, 

with shoppers coming from far and wide 

and consequently the flow-on effect to 

the broader retail sector has provided a 

tremendous boost to our local economy. 

18 



oo Flat 

– a great place to 

live, work and play! 

Rocklea Homemaker Centre. 

“No longer is there a great need to 

travel several kilometres to the CBD 

in Bendigo for that special shopping 

treat. Over the last decade the 

changes to retail, education and 

transport have been significant” 

High Street shopping strip. 

Community members are, in most cases, 

the best placed to plan for the future of 

their own communities and this has been 

evidenced by the development of the 

Dower Park Master Plan to provide better 

facilities for our sporting groups, as well as 

the ongoing recreational developments at 

Crusoe Reservoir. 

Identifying a vision, then planning for 

actions to realise the vision is a great 

mechanism to develop partnerships and 

gain support from key stakeholders to 

bring that vision to life. 

The 2009 Kangaroo Flat Community Plan 

will soon roll out its next achievement with 

work now underway on the $31M Greater 

Bendigo Indoor Aquatic and Wellbeing 

Centre. 

This project has been the brainchild of 

the Kangaroo Flat Community Enterprise, 

which instigated the Kangaroo Flat 

Community Plan that identified that the 

Aquatic and Wellbeing Centre was the 

greatest need for our community. That 

dream will become a reality at the end 

of 2017. It demonstrates that community 

members can work together with a focus 

on the infrastructure, development and 

social needs to keep pace with the current 

and future demands of a growing, diverse 

and developing area. 

About Alan... 

Born and raised in Adelaide, Alan 

moved to Kangaroo Flat in 1981 to 

take up the role of Sports Presenter 

at Southern Cross Television. 

Alan has an enormous passion 

for working with the community. 

His community involvement has 

included being a Greater Bendigo 

City Councillor (2001-2004), Chair of 

the Organising Committee for the 

2004 Commonwealth Youth Games, 

founding Committee member of 

the Kangaroo Flat Sports Club, 

founding Committee member of 

the Kangaroo Flat Community 

Enterprise, Editor of the Flat Matters 

community newsletter, member of 

the Community Reference Group for 

the Greater Bendigo Indoor Aquatic 

and Wellbeing Centre and Number 

One Ticketholder of the Kangaroo 

Flat Football Club. 


Our environment 

– the right and smart thing to do! 

Approximately 12,000 tonnes of organic waste 

will be saved from landfill each year now that 

the City of Greater Bendigo’s new organic waste 

collection has been introduced to over 40,000 

households in urban Bendigo and Marong. 

Over 50 per cent of household waste is food and 

garden waste that is now being composted and 

reused rather than going to landfill. 

Instead of rotting in a landfill making nasty 

methane and other greenhouse gases, our 

organic waste is now being turned into reusable 

compost for use on parks and gardens. This 

is a great outcome for our landfill and the 

environment. 

In July we witnessed a great example of this 

when the City’s beautiful spring tulip display 

in the Conservatory and Queen’s Gardens was 

planted in compost produced from the organic 

waste of residents in the organics trial area. 

About 30,000 tulips of various varieties and a 

rainbow of colour were planted by the City’s 

Parks and Natural Reserves staff using the 

compost to provide a spectacular display for 

both locals and visitors alike. 

The compost produced 

is also being used at a 

number of other locations 

around Greater Bendigo 

proving that what you 

throw away can grow 

another day! 

The new organics collection 

service was introduced because: 

• It is a key action of the City’s 2014-2019 

Waste and Resource Management 

Strategy, which was adopted by 

Council in 2014 

• It responds to the State Government’s 

Statewide Waste and Resource Recovery 

Infrastructure Plan, which urges Local 

Government to introduce systems that 

remove organic waste from landfills 

• It reduces the current and future 

financial and environmental liabilities 

(currently over $3.4M) that the City 

must pay to the State Government 

each year for every tonne of waste that 

is put into landfill 

• Organic waste in landfills is the biggest 

cause of methane and other dangerous 

greenhouse gases 

• Removing organic material will extend 

the life our local landfill 

• It’s the right and smart thing to do! 

Put this in your organic bin 

• all food scraps 

• vegetable peels 

• fruit scraps 

• egg shells 

• fish 

• bones 

• meat 

• teabags 

• coffee grounds 

• any cooked food 

• garden waste such as 

prunings, grass clippings, 

sticks, weeds and flowers 

• tissues/paper towel 

• pizza boxes 

Don’t put this in your 

organic bin 

• plastic bags 

• dirty nappies 

• general household waste 

• packaged food 

• old clothing 

• treated or laminated timber 

20 



MASH 

solar bulk buy 

The City of Greater Bendigo and 

Bendigo Sustainability Group is 

supporting the More Australian Solar 

Homes (MASH) Bendigo community 

solar bulk buy project. 

MASH Bendigo offers high quality solar 

photovoltaic (PV) systems that will help 

homeowners to save on their electricity 

costs. Solar systems purchased 

through bulk buy programs are 

typically lower than what homeowners 

can negotiate as an individual for 

a similar quality system. The local 

economy also benefits because local 

tradespeople are used to install the 

systems. MASH Bendigo also offers a 

battery storage system option for those 

who may be looking to store the power 

their system generates. 

In addition, there is also a strong 

community benefit because for every 

100 Bendigo homes that purchase a 

solar system through the MASH project, 

a free solar system will be installed at a 

community-owned facility or building. 

This is a great initiative that could 

result in the facilities of local clubs, 

groups and organisations going solar 

at no cost. 

The Hub Foundation, a not-for-profit 

organisation, launched MASH in 

Castlemaine in 2014 and already over 

500 households in central Victoria have 

purchased a solar system through the 

bulk-buy program since it started. 

If you are interested in going solar or 

you want to power your home for free 

at night using battery storage, call 1300 

GO MASH (1300 466 274) or visit 

www.mash.org.au 

Environmental Upgrade 

Agreements for businesses 

The City of Greater Bendigo and the 

Sustainable Melbourne Fund have joined 

forces to provide an opportunity for local 

commercial building owners and businesses 

to apply for longer term, lower interest loans 

with zero up front capital and no additional 

security to undertake environmental 

improvements to their buildings. 

The Environmental Upgrade Agreement (EUA) 

initiative is a financing agreement between 

a commercial building owner, a financial 

lender and the City, which will collect the loan 

repayments on a quarterly basis through its 

rating system and return it to the financial 

lender. 

City Manager Sustainable Environment Robyn 

Major said the EUAs are important because 

they provide the means for businesses and 

commercial building owners to undertake 

works that will improve the energy, water, 

waste or environmental efficiencies of their 

premises. 

“By undertaking environmental upgrades to 

their premises, the business or commercial 

property owner will increase the value of their 

asset and lower their operating costs. The 

lower operating costs of the building can be 

passed onto tenants through competitive 

leasing rates,” Ms Major said. 

“It’s a great deal that holds benefits for the 

property owner, the tenant and other local 

businesses who may benefit by undertaking 

the actual upgrade works.” 

She said the EUAs are part of the City’s 

commitment to supporting local business 

development and also its strong commitment 

for projects that lessen the impact on our 

environment. 

Building improvements that qualify for an 

EUA include installation of solar equipment, 

lighting upgrades, installation of external 

shading, improvements to heating, cooling 

and ventilation, water saving and harvesting 

systems and electronic control equipment. 

For more information on the EUAs visit 

www.sustainablemelbournefund.com.au 


Our economy 

Hofmann Engineering. 

22 



Hanson. 

MSD Animal Health. 

Keogh and Sons 

Manufacturing. 

Bendigo Woollen Mills. 

The City of Greater Bendigo’s Economic Development Unit has produced a new publication called 

Made in Bendigo to showcase the region’s innovative and diverse manufacturing and mining sectors 

to companies looking to source suppliers or relocate to the region. 

City Chief Executive Officer Craig Niemann 

said the manufacturing and mining 

industries are collectively the largest 

economic contributor to Bendigo’s local 

economy providing employment for over 

4,000 people. 

“Our manufacturing and mining businesses 

provide a diverse range of products for the 

local, national and international markets. 

Many locals simply don’t realise the impact 

these businesses have on our local economy, 

what they have to offer and the local jobs 

they provide,” Mr Niemann said. 

Made in Bendigo is a 43 page full colour book 

that places the spotlight on some of the local 

manufacturing and mining companies who 

are operating successfully in our region. 

“The companies highlighted explain what 

they do and why Bendigo is a great place 

to make things and do business. Made in 

Bendigo is a great resource for businesses 

who may be considering setting up in our 

region. There are a lot of fast facts and 

information about living in Bendigo,” Mr 

Niemann said. 

Sectors including defence, food and fibre, 

beverages, building, manufacturing and 

construction, metals and engineering, 

mining and quarrying, transport and niche 

industries are all highlighted. 

The publication also features ‘hero 

articles’ on Thales, Parmalat, Hazeldenes, 

Mandurang Valley Wines, Custom Coffees, BB 

Truss and Timber, Keech Australia, Hofmann 

Engineering, Hanson, Bendigo Tramways, 

Harrower Tube Bending and MSD Animal 

Health. 

Made in Bendigo will be used by the City’s 

Economic Development Unit and local 

business to help market and promote 

Greater Bendigo as a key regional centre for 

manufacturing. 

Read it 

Made in Bendigo is available online at 

www.bendigo.vic.gov.au or by phoning 

the City’s Economic Development Unit 

on 5434 6000. 


GrantGuru 

helps local 

businesses 

to find funding 

New online forum to 

support local business 

There is now a new interactive way for 

local start up and small businesses 

to network in Greater Bendigo via the 

Supporting Local Business Bendigo 

online forum at www.businessbendigo. 

com.au 

The custom-built interactive online 

forum is the place to go to seek advice 

and share experiences via a virtual 

‘self-help’ desk. The forum is supported 

by social media accounts on Facebook, 

Instagram and Twitter, where business 

owners share posts, images and tweets 

using the hashtag #slbb and tag other 

businesses. 

The accounts can be used to promote 

upcoming events for the small and 

micro business community, share 

motivational stories and explain the 

value of the sector to business owners. 

Each month a local business identity 

will be featured in a live session 

designed to allow local small 

businesses to have direct access to 

someone who has ‘been there, done 

that’ and can share their experiences. 

“The success of the forum 

depends on people sharing 

the skills and knowledge they 

have and we are anticipating 

a great exchange of ideas” 

Peter Jeffery from the City’s Economic 

Development Unit said local businesses 

are encouraged to join the forum and 

support their fellow business owners. 

“There is a wealth of diverse businesses 

in Bendigo that have proven their 

success over many years. Some of these 

will participate in our Ask Me Anything 

sessions and others will feature in 

stories and interviews,” Mr Jeffery said. 

“The success of the forum depends on 

people sharing the skills and knowledge 

they have and we are anticipating a 

great exchange of ideas. 

“I urge all aspiring and existing business 

owners from sole traders to larger 

enterprises to register on the forum, 

participate in the existing threads, 

start your own topics and spark 

conversation.” 

The Supporting Local Business Bendigo 

initiative is part of the City’s ongoing 

commitment to micro and small 

business development. 

Local small businesses can now locate 

available grants and funding via a custom 

made search tool called the Bendigo 

Funding Finder, which is powered by 

Australia’s top business grants website 

GrantGuru. 

City of Greater Bendigo Economic 

Development Unit Manager Brian Gould 

said in what is an Australian-first, the Unit 

has partnered with the GrantGuru website 

to create the custom search tool that hand 

picks grants and funding opportunities 

specifically for small and micro businesses 

in the Bendigo region. 

“The Bendigo Funding Finder is free to 

use and simplifies what can often be a 

complicated and difficult process to find 

out what’s available,” Mr Gould said. 

“It’s a powerful but easy-to-use tool for 

business that can search and find grants 

from more than 700 funding programs 

across a range of specialities, such as 

research and development, sustainability, 

export, manufacturing, agriculture and IT. 

“With the GrantGuru website providing 

direct access to a total of $50B every year, 

there are potential funding streams for 

businesses of all types and sizes, from 

start-ups to the long-established. 

“Using the Bendigo Funding Finder our 

local businesses can quickly extract the 

information they need to locate potential 

funding.” 

Through the localised platform business 

owners can also find advice and 

professional services to help with general 

business development and to identify 

grant writers that can assist to win the 

grants they want. 

“The City of Greater Bendigo is committed 

to assisting local businesses and the 

Bendigo Funding Finder is one of the many 

initiatives we are supporting to achieve 

this,” Mr Gould said. 

Access the Bendigo Funding Finder 

at www.bendigo.grantguru.com.au 

24 



Marilyn success 

The recent Bendigo Art Gallery and 

Twentieth Century Fox present Marilyn 

Monroe exhibition, which ran from March 5 

to July 10, attracted 143,500 people. 

The attendance figure makes it one of the 

most successful exhibitions ever staged 

by the gallery. Bendigo Art Gallery Director 

Karen Quinlan said the public response 

has reinforced the relevance of the Marilyn 

Monroe story today. 

“We had people of all ages from locals to 

people from Melbourne and interstate visit 

the gallery, including numerous school 

and family groups, which proves Marilyn’s 

enduring, cross-generation appeal,” Ms 

Quinlan said. 

“It was also great to see local businesses 

embrace the exhibition and the 

opportunities that came from such an 

influx of visitors to Bendigo. They filled 

their shop windows with Marilyn posters 

and mannequins and offered Marilynthemed 

food, which was a great example 

of how cultural activity and exhibitions 

can bring a range of benefits to the 

community at large.” 

The Seward Johnson Forever Marilyn 

sculpture also attracted enormous media 

interest and thousands of people who 

took advantage of the opportunity to take 

a selfie with the eight metre tall Marilyn. 

Forever Marilyn demonstrated how public 

art can engage people and it was a 

fantastic talking point for both locals and 

visitors alike. 

A unified approach 

for transport projects 

Six municipalities have signed up to 

a new transport strategy prioritising 

key transport projects in the Loddon 

Campaspe region. 

The Loddon Campaspe Integrated 

Transport Strategy represents a unified 

approach by the City of Greater 

Bendigo and the Loddon, Mount 

Alexander, Central Goldfields, Macedon 

Ranges and Campaspe Shires to 

seek project funding and support for 

transport infrastructure projects. 

It lists 46 projects for development or 

advocacy, including 10 key projects: 

• Murray Basin Rail Project 

• Echuca Moama Bridge 

• Capacity improvements on the 

Bendigo, Swan Hill and Echuca 

passenger rail services 

• Increased passenger rail services 

throughout the region 

• Bridges, Structures and Higher Mass 

Limit Access Study 

• Develop a functional road use 

hierarchy for freight, community 

access and tourist routes, then 

prioritise investment on these road 

networks 

• A freight hub study for Loddon 

Campaspe region 

• A Railway Station Access 

Improvement Program, encouraging 

active and public transport 

• Rail trails and recreational tourism 

bike networks 

• Small towns connectivity plans 

City Chief Executive Officer Craig 

Niemann said the strategy was an 

important initiative that will provide 

improved services across the Loddon 

Campaspe region. 

“It is not unusual for a transport asset 

to be within one municipality but still 

deliver benefits to other municipalities. 

By taking a co-operative approach, 

we are able to support projects that 

provide the greatest benefit right 

across the region,” Mr Niemann said. 


New Tourism Plan for Bendigo region 

Earlier this year Bendigo 

Regional Tourism launched 

a Destination Management 

Plan to build on the 

Bendigo region’s growing 

tourism potential and 

encourage people to stay 

longer in the region. 

Bendigo Regional Tourism was formed 

in 2012 and is the peak industry body for 

tourism across the Bendigo region, which 

includes the municipalities of Greater 

Bendigo, Loddon, Mount Alexander and 

Central Goldfields. 

The Destination Management Plan is a key 

strategy for the Bendigo region for the next 

five years. It sets out a clear direction and a 

range of actions, strategies and marketing 

activities to attract even more tourists to 

the broader region and provide more jobs 

for local residents. It is also based on best 

practice destination management models as 

identified by the Australian Regional Tourism 

Network 

City of Greater Bendigo Tourism Manager 

Kathryn Mackenzie said the plan identifies 

how Bendigo Regional Tourism member 

Councils can work together with their 

individual and collective marketing, visitor 

services and digital strategies. 

“We know many people travel to Bendigo 

for an event but we want to encourage 

them to stay longer than just a day. There 

are some great attractions and townships 

with boutique offerings in our region just a 

short drive from Bendigo and we are working 

together to highlight this to our visitors,” Ms 

Mackenzie said. 

She said tourism across the Bendigo Region 

is currently experiencing significant growth. 

“The Bendigo/Loddon Region 

welcomes 1.733 million day 

trippers and 866,000 visitors who 

stay over-night each year which 

is 2.6 million visitors to the region 

annually” 

“People are discovering our region on the 

back of some really great exhibitions such 

as Marilyn Monroe, events, attractions and a 

growing foodie culture,” Ms Mackenzie said. 

“The Bendigo/Loddon Region welcomes 

1.733 million day trippers and 866,000 

visitors who stay over-night each year, which 

is 2.6 million visitors to the region annually. 

“By having a plan in place we can identify 

any gaps in the current local products and 

visitor experiences, so that we can continue 

to increase visitation, extend the length of 

stays and improve the quality of the visitor 

experience for the future. 

“Tourism and supporting industries 

contribute approximately $460M per year 

to the Bendigo-Loddon economy making 

it a significant industry sector and a major 

employer in our region.” 

26 



GET SET FOR A 

FESTIVAL OF 

ashion + art 

The 2016 Bendigo Fashion Festival is 

shaping up to be a unique fusion of fashion 

and art. 

The Runway Show is the festival’s feature 

event and this year it will take place at 

Ulumbarra Theatre at 7.30pm, Friday 

October 7. 

“There are some very creative 

people in our region and this year 

we invited artists who create 

jewellery, headpieces, millinery 

and wearable art to be part of the 

runway show” 

Acting Director City Futures Terry 

Karamaloudis said organisers were aiming 

to make this year’s runway show a feast of 

fashion that is available to purchase from 

local retailers and the designs and fashion 

art created by regional artisans. 

“The Bendigo Fashion Festival began 

in 2007 to establish Bendigo as a major 

regional destination for fashion and 

retail, complement Bendigo Art Gallery’s 

exhibitions, encourage people to shop local 

and nurture regional fashion students, 

designers and artisans,” Mr Karamaloudis 

said. 

“There are some very creative people in our 

region and this year we invited artists who 

create jewellery, headpieces, millinery and 

wearable art to be part of the runway show. 

“The selected artists were provided with 

some funding to create something new 

or to alter an existing collection, and they 

are now working with other designers and 

artisans, the Bendigo Fashion Festival team 

and production staff to present a runway 

showing of their work. 

“This year’s runway show is shaping up to 

be something really special so if you love 

fashion and art don’t miss it.” 

Tickets for the show are $27 and can be 

purchased online at www.gotix.com.au 

or by phoning 5434 6100. For more 

information visit www.bendigotourism.com 

Image courtesy of the Bendigo Advertiser. 


Your Councillors 

What’s on 

September 

9-11 2016 Calisthenics Victoria State Titles 

Ulumbarra Theatre 

15-25 National Aerobic Club Championships 

Ulumbarra Theatre/Bendigo Stadium 

October 

4-6 Elmore Field Days 

Elmore Events Centre 

7 Bendigo Fashion Festival 

Ulumbarra Theatre 

8 Bendigo Heritage Uncorked 

Bendigo CBD 

8-9 Goldfields 7s Rugby 

Epsom/Huntly Recreation Reserve 

Mayor Cr Rod Fyffe 

T: 5443 7673 

M: 0419 874 015 

E: r.fyffe@bendigocouncillors.org.au 

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 

8-9 Heathcote Food and Wine Festival 

Various venues 

21-22 Bendigo Agricultural Show 

Bendigo Showgrounds/Exhibition Centre 

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

Don’t forget to vote! 

Council elections are held every four years on the 

fourth Saturday in October. The next council elections 

will take place on October 22, 2016. 

This is your opportunity to shape decision-making in 

Greater Bendigo. 

Make your vote count. 

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 

Stay informed at www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/councilelection 

Contact us 

City of Greater Bendigo 

Executive Management Team 

Cr Mark Weragoda 

T: 5434 6192 

M: 0400 363 586 

E: m.weragoda@bendigocouncillors.org.au 

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 

Craig Niemann 

Chief Executive Officer 

Michael Smyth 

Acting Director, Community Wellbeing 

Terry Karamaloudis 

Acting Director, City Futures 

Ian Couper 

Acting Director, Presentation and Assets 

Kerryn Ellis 

Director, Organisation Support 

Prue Mansfield 

Director, Planning and Development 

Want to read this document in an alternative format? 

The City is committed to providing documents that are easy to read for all. If you would like to read the magazine in an 

alternative format eg. large print or text only, contact Customer Service on 5434 6000 or requests@bendigo.vic.gov.au 

and we will endeavour to service your request in the quickest time possible. 

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 

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. 

28

GB Magazine September 2016

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