Bendigo Theatre project given the green light
Planning Minister Matthew Guy has given the green light for the Bendigo Gaol Theatre Project to proceed by approving amendment C194 to the Greater Bendigo planning scheme, which will be gazetted this week.
The amendment will pave the way for construction of Bendigo’s new $25.8 million, 1,000 seat community theatre project.
“This project has strong local support, particularly from the City of Greater Bendigo, will create 121 construction jobs and be an important community asset upon completion,” Mr Guy said.
“Along with the construction of the $600 million new Bendigo Hospital, this facility will represent new investment in Victoria’s fourth largest city that adds to the confidence and social capital befitting one of the largest inland cities in Australia.”
“This project has strong support from the Greater Bendigo community and will provide state of the art cultural and educational facilities that will further put Bendigo on the cultural map and add to Bendigo’s reputation as our most trendy regional city.”
“Further, the historical importance of the site has not been underestimated and the project will pay respect to the heritage significance of the Bendigo Gaol site,” Mr Guy said.
The $25.8 million project is being funded by the Victorian Coalition Government, Australian Government and the City of Greater Bendigo and was given planning certainty through the Planning Minister, incorporating the theatre plans in to the city’s planning scheme.
“It was vitally important for Greater Bendigo that this project receive planning certainty and proceed and as such an incorporated planning document was necessary to give confidence that it would go ahead,” Mr Guy said.
The project will be delivered by Bendigo Senior Secondary College in partnership with the Australian Government, the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development and the City of Greater Bendigo.
