Changes approved for 26 January event

CITY of Greater Bendigo councillors endorsed a document known as the January 26 Statement of Intent at their Monday 24 July regular meeting.

The document was created following discussions with traditional owner groups, including Dja Dja Wurrung also know as DJAARA, Bendigo and District Aboriginal Cooperative board or BDAC, and Taungurung Land and Waters council.

The January 26 Statement of Intent focuses on acknowledging what Australia Day means to local Aboriginal groups and how the City can support the community through that understanding.

The statement was reviewed and supported by DJAARA and BDAC, and Taungurung Land and Waters council released its Taungurung Statement on January 26 this year.

In their statement, Taungurung representatives spoke of the hurt felt about Australia Day and perceived endorsement of colonialism and oppression.

As a direct result of councillors’ approval of the January 26 Statement of Intent, the City of Greater Bendigo’s Australia Day citizenship ceremony will be moved to 25 January from next year.

Cr David Fagg said the move was “a minor step in the right direction and one which we should take.”

The change aligns with Federal Government’s Australia Day Citizenship Ceremonies Code, which allows municipalities to hold the events up to three days before or after 26 January.

Calls to keep outdoor dining

A petition against the end of temporary outdoor dining rules was received by council.

The document contained 17 signatures from community members and was lodged by Paul Hurnall.

He said he has a blood condition called Evans Syndrome that weakens his immune system and makes him unable to dine in indoor public spaces.

Along with the petition, Mr Hurnall wrote a letter to City of Greater Bendigo’s director of strategy and growth Steve Hamilton.

“This condition weakens my immune system and exposure to any infection including COVID-19, and poses significant risk to my wellbeing,” said Mr Hurnall.

“Therefore, indoor dining is not an option, footpath dining is often too crowded. I would however choose to dine in a designated outdoor space. it is safe and social distancing is possible.

“I understand the impact on business, parking and amenity.

“However, there appears to be a lack of understanding of the impact of this decision on individuals, their families, and friends who would choose to dine outdoor[s], including people like me.”

Since the pandemic, several hospitality businesses brought out their dining services into spaces previously used for things like car parking.

It was previously announced that on Thursday 12 October expanded dining areas were to revert to pre-COVID-19 trading conditions.

Planning and developments

An amendment to the Greater Bendigo Planning Scheme has been approved with minor changes as recommended by a panel appointed by the State’s Minister for Planning.

The change sought to simplify how the planning scheme works, and to fix several identified zoning, overlay, and mapping errors.

Meanwhile, an Epsom site was approved for rezoning from farming to general residential and public park and recreation as part of a 78-lot subdivision and the removal of native plants.

Located at 1 Buckland Street and 20 Montis Lane and 18-46 Saade Street, within 50 metres of Bendigo Creek, there were some concerns about how flooding and stormwater might be managed at the development.

The land was previously used for farming, and about three-quarters of a hectare of native vegetation across its total area of about nine hectares would be cleared.

Finally, councillors refused a permit for a dwelling on Mt Ida Lane at Heathcote due to it being inconsistent with policy for agriculture and rural dwellings.

Cr Margaret O’Rourke said she had no reason to believe the land couldn’t be farmed without one, but Cr Greg Penna had a different view.

“Do we allow this dwelling to be built, which would house a family and would free up housing stock in Heathcote, and would have them making this land productive which adds to this region’s food security,” said Cr Penna.

“Or do we not allow this dwelling to be constructed, which would then not make this land at all productive apart from for kangaroos?”

Contract awarded

Burns Services Bendigo Pty Ltd, was granted a three-year contract, with the option of an additional period of two years, for their project provision of essential safety measures – mechanical services.

The budget for this project is $280,000 and the work was awarded under delegation by the appropriate sub-committee.