Seeking ideas for city assets

A DRAFT City of Greater Bendigo Community Asset Policy is open for public comment until 20 August.

Community assets include everything from buildings, public toilets, structures, statues and monuments, playspaces, sporting grounds, parks and reserves to bridges, roads and more.

Mayor Andrea Metcalf said the city owns and manages a large asset base valued at about $1.99 billion serving a population of 120,000 people, which is expected to increase by a further 87,000 by 2056.

“The draft Community Asset Policy aims to support equitable decision making relating to the investment, rationalisation and management of these important community assets,” Cr Metcalf said. “With rapid population growth in some areas and gradual population decline in other areas, this evolving community demographic is now impacting on asset and service needs.”

Cr Metcalf said the draft policy had been developed to provide a “transparent, consistent, fair and equitable” decision making process.

She said this would address “current inequities” in existing asset and service levels, and would deal with increasing financial challenges in supporting the maintenance and operations of a large and ageing asset base.

“The draft policy aims to balance the operational, environmental and financial demands of the city while providing positive outcomes to the community and I encourage interested residents to provide their feedback on it,” Cr Metcalf said.

The policy will apply when decisions are being made about planning, design, resourcing and delivering community assets.

Examples could include when a new asset or an upgrade to an existing asset is proposed, a change in use, new developments, a change in the condition of assets, or a demonstrated need or gap in supply.

The draft policy can be viewed and feedback left on the city’s Let’s Talk community engagement website at letstalkgreaterbendigo.com.au/community-asset-policy.

All feedback will be considered and any resulting changes will be included before the policy goes to the September council meeting for potential approval.