Arabic version: سكان بنديغو يعترضون على خطة دجارا للإسكان الاجتماعي
According to ABC News, residents near Bendigo’s former North Bendigo Primary School say Victoria’s fast-tracked planning process could allow a proposed Djaara social housing project to proceed without enough scrutiny. Djaara is seeking to build 34 one- and two-storey homes for about 75 people on Nolan Road.
Djaara, the trading name of the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation, received $21.6 million from the Victorian government for the project in December last year. Neighbour Ben Pengilley said residents recognised the need for social housing but wanted opportunities to question applications and oppose conditions. He said the site had been identified as parkland in a Victorian government-backed 2019 public space plan.
Residents also raised traffic concerns. Michael Jurca said Barney Street was already used for all-day parking by Bendigo Health workers, leaving limited space for residents, visitors and services. Djaara’s Transport Impact Assessment used a New South Wales report for assumptions about daily vehicle movements per house. Pengilley described this as “lazy planning”.
The proposal is expected to go before Planning Minister Sonja Kilkenny through the Development Facilitation Program, which fast-tracks priority housing and renewable-energy projects. The program removes planning powers from local councils and the right for residents to object at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
The City of Greater Bendigo supports the application in principle but says environmental constraints and site remediation need further consideration. Its engineering unit found the traffic assessment estimated additional development traffic without a detailed assessment of existing or future conditions. Djaara acting chief executive Harley Douglas said its housing provider subsidiary, Mayam Mayam, would review submissions and consider responses with the Department of Transport and Planning. If approved, construction is scheduled to start in the middle of next year and finish by the end of 2028.
