Creating the World's Most Liveable Community

Creating the world’s most liveable community City of Greater Bendigo priority projects for the Australian Government Welcome to Greater Bendigo Greater Bendigo – creating the world’s most liveable community. The City of Greater Bendigo is pleased to present this investment prospectus. The City would welcome the opportunity to further partner with the Australian Government to help achieve its vision for Greater Bendigo to be the world’s most liveable community. Greater Bendigo’s population is growing and diversifying because it can offer residents everything they need in one place – world-class health care, access to domestic and international flights, quality education providers, affordable housing and great employment, recreation and cultural opportunities. This prospectus highlights a range of projects that demonstrate the City’s strength to plan long-term and recognise what is needed now and into the future to remain a successful community. Delivering the projects in this prospectus will drive future economic growth and job creation for Greater Bendigo and the wider region, enhance the health of our community and improve our overall liveability. The projects represent an investment in the future of Greater Bendigo and we respectfully seek your support for our vibrant community. Acknowledgement of Country City of Greater Bendigo is on Dja Dja Wurrung and Taungurung Country. The City acknowledges and extends its appreciation to the Traditional Owners of the land, and pays its respects to leaders and Elder’s past, present and emerging for they hold the memories, traditions, culture and the hopes of all Aboriginal people. The City expresses its gratitude in the sharing of this land, sorrow for the personal, spiritual and cultural costs of that sharing, and hopes that the community may walk forward together in harmony and in the spirit of healing. Who are we? Greater Bendigo is one of Australia’s largest inland cities, supporting a local population of approximately 113,6001 and regional population of close to 240,0002. These numbers are forecast to reach about 200,0003 and 350,0004 respectively by 2050. The City wants Greater Bendigo to be a place of excellence for business, including Bendigo Health, Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, all citizens. Our population is becoming increasingly culturally, Hazeldene’s Chicken Farm, Thales Australia, Australian Defence religiously and ethnically diverse. We strive to be an inclusive Apparel, La Trobe University, Keech Australia, SERCO, Parmalat, community that is accessible for all, celebrates multiculturalism, MSD Animal Health, Fosterville and Mandalay Resources mines, and acknowledges and respects its Traditional Owners, the Dja Industrial Conveyancing, Hofmann Engineering, various Victorian Dja Wurrung, Taungurung and Gurai-illam Wurrung language Government departments and more than 7,500 businesses. groups of the Central Kulin nation. Bendigo has a fascinating history and was once one of the richest cities in the world after gold was discovered here in 1851. The To Deniliquin impact of the gold rush is still evident today, particularly Echuca through our beautiful streetscapes and historic buildings. To Swan Hill Greater Bendigo consists of an urban area and many To Mildura rural small towns and villages, all of which contribute to our strong sense of community and provide residents with great lifestyle alternatives. Inner-city Wedderburn To Shepparton living, family homes, or hobby or large-scale farms can all be found here. To Wangaratta We are also a service and infrastructure centre Nagambie surrounded by Mount Alexander, Campaspe, Central To Mildura Bendigo Euroa Goldfields, Macedon Ranges, Loddon, Mitchell and Maldon Strathbogie shires, which see Bendigo as a viable Heathcote Maryborough alternative to travelling to Melbourne to access the Castlemaine services they need. Our location in the geographic centre of Victoria is two Broadford hours from Melbourne by road or train and a 90-minute drive from Melbourne Airport. Although easily accessible, this distance has seen Greater Bendigo develop into a largely self-contained regional centre, where more than 90 per cent of the workforce lives locally. Our main industries are healthcare and social assistance, retail, manufacturing, construction, and education and training. Greater Bendigo’s economy is valued at $7.07B5 per annum. Large employers range from major institutional organisations to private Melbourne 1,2. ABS 2016; 3,4. Based on Victoria in Future 2016; 5. REMPLAN, 2017 5 The answer: Greater Bendigo The City has a proud history of working with all levels of government and private industry to deliver essential services and infrastructure to residents. The projects in this prospectus demonstrate the City’s ability to Our many attributes, such as award-winning restaurants and plan for the future, setting a benchmark in the Local Government cafes, a celebrated arts and culture scene, a range of festivals sector as a forward thinking, creative and adaptable organisation. and major events, Qantas flights to Sydney and beyond, quality recreation facilities, and beautiful heritage and natural surrounds Our guiding documents include the Community Plan 2017-2021, also contribute to our brand as a liveable community. Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan 2017-2021, Greater Bendigo Residential Strategy, the award-winning Connecting Greater Bendigo has the vision and capability to continue to drive Greater Bendigo: Integrated Transport and Land Use Strategy, the development of a strong, diverse economy Commercial Land and Activity Centre Strategy, Economic and vibrant community life, and looks Development Strategy, Environment Strategy and Plan forward to building on its successful Greater Bendigo. history in partnership with others. Increasingly, Greater Bendigo is acting as a solution for families and businesses that find living and operating in capital cities unsustainable. The advent of high speed internet has meant that people do not have to be in the same city or even the same country to do business, so this has allowed them to choose liveability over accessibility. To ensure Greater Bendigo can support an expected population of 200,000, there will need to be approximately 40,000 more jobs created. One of our highest growth demographics is 25-34 year olds. To ensure these people can transition through their careers locally, it will be important to develop ongoing employment opportunities from entry level through to senior positions. The City is also working to establish Greater Bendigo as a ‘smart city’ and believes technology will be able to help improve liveability and solve some of our local challenges. We are working with La Trobe University to make data capture easy and cost effective, so it can then be available for the community to use and create products or services from. 7 Vibrancy and culture Greater Bendigo’s reputation as a leader in the provision of arts and cultural experiences has been firmly established over the past decade. The City proudly celebrates its gold rush past and the people who contributed to shaping our history. We are continually looking for opportunities to attract people to our region to share in a range of experiences that tell our unique story. Central Deborah Gold Mine Bendigo is a city built on gold, with more gold found in the region A contemporary function centre is proposed that can cater for between 1850 and 1900 than anywhere else in the world. Today, events, weddings and offer a museum and exhibition space, the poppet heads, grand avenues and historic buildings serve as improved retail space and visitor hub for all Bendigo Heritage a visual reminder of the richness of the Bendigo goldfield. Attractions experiences, including evening tram services through the CBD area. It will also have the capacity to host new activities, The Central Deborah Gold Mine is an authentic interpretation including jewellery making workshops, gold panning, a play space, of the historic operations of quartz mining in Bendigo, Victoria’s performance space and gold miner cage ride. highest producing goldfield, because it is the only mine left with the fabric of its historic operation intact. It offers three different The cost breakdown is as follows: underground tours and a self-guided surface mine tour. Total project cost – $6M The Central Deborah Gold Mine is in need of a ‘game changer’ Australian Government – $2M project that will lift admissions and improve future operations, Victorian Government – $3M complementing the tourism offer in Bendigo and central Victoria. City of Greater Bendigo – $1M Artist impression: Central Deborah Gold Mine Left and above: Artist impression of Central Deborah Gold Mine 9 National Chinese Museum of Australia The Golden Dragon Museum has a vision to transform Bendigo’s Other – fill an identified gap in Bendigo’s accommodation offering, Chinese precinct into Bendigo’s Chinatown. provide increased visitation to the National Chinese Museum of Australia, provide package accommodation options and attract At the heart of the new Chinatown will be the re-brand and higher spending markets expansion of the Golden Dragon Museum, to be known as the National Chinese Museum of Australia. Demolish current museum building and replace it with a building To complement the museum is the planned development attached to the new extension (Hibernia Hotel and Elders Room of a 180-room, 4.5 star hotel. are retained) Cost – $22.6M, private sector investment The Golden Dragon Museum is a renowned

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