Developer hails council move on Ravenswood

A MAJOR Australian property developer has hailed the inclusion of Ravenswood in a City of Greater Bendigo investigation into future housing sites as a positive move for the region.

Villawood Properties’ Victorian regional general manager Julian Perez said said Ravenswood presented a serious opportunity to attract the professionals and skilled workers Bendigo needs now and into the future.

The developer has previously called for the area’s consideration as a growth site.

“We’re very pleased the city council has decided to look south as it considers the crucial issue of Bendigo’s growth,” he said.

“Bendigo’s housing and economic growth needs greenfields sites such as Ravenswood in order to attract the doctors, lawyers, accountants, nurses, teachers and skilled labourers that Bendigo wants,” he said.

Villawood already has land for sale in the region, at its Imagine Estate in Strathfieldsaye, and has indicated a desire to develop land at Ravenswood.

It has under management a parcel of land of more than 2000 hectares under a single ownership there.

Mr Perez’s comments follow the area’s inclusion last month as an investigation site in the City’s Managed Growth Strategy, which is designed to guide residential growth in the municipality over the next 30 years.

It was included on a motion by Cr Margaret O’Rourke at the immediate past council’s final pre-election meeting in September. She moved the Managed Growth Strategy be adopted but with the inclusion of Ravenswood as an area to be investigated.

Cr O’Rourke’s addition caused some dissent among her colleagues, with Crs Julie Sloan, David Fagg and Jennifer Alden voting against.

Cr Fagg told the meeting that including Ravenswood would send a message to developers that the City was not serious about its desire for infill developments or its already designated preferred development areas.

But Mr Perez rejected the claim.

“We support infill, where it’s appropriate and achievable, and Bendigo needs a mix of both infill and greenfield growth,” he said.

“It must be balanced, though, and the 70:30 infill-greenfield ratio [the City’s preference] just won’t work.”

Mr Perez also acknowledged immediate past mayor Andrea Metcalf’s support for Ravenswood’s inclusion as a study site.

“Cr Metcalf acknowledged there were few impediments to development at Ravenswood as well as the significant early infrastructure – clubs, schools, parks, retail – Villawood has provided in its master planned communities elsewhere,” he said.

“She noted the 10 minutes from Lansell Square and one hour 15 [minutes] from Melbourne, plus the housing diversity and affordability Villawood offers.

“Other councillors showed similar support, too, arguing the positives of Ravenswood were well worthy of further investigation.”

Mr Perez said Ravenswood had the potential for 4000 new homes, which could house more than 10,000 people.