Comments From Peter Wiseman

I moved to the Mandurang Valley in 1998.

It was a green and pleasant place with sweeping unobstructed views of One Tree Hill.

Unfortunately, a few years later the City of Greater Bendigo retrospectively approved a development plan and planning permit for an industrial scale horticultural business which had been illegally developed without a permit.

The development was opposed by ALL of the residents of the valley. Especially when they discovered the entire orchard would be covered by a virulent bright pink bird net.

Since the council despicably acted to protect itself by approving the plan and permit, adjoining properties have been assaulted with constant machinery noise, noxious odours, frequent inappropriately applied poisonous chemical sprays and of course the sight of the massive pink net which has destroyed the significant visual amenity this photographic project seeks to protect.

The attached photographs go some way towards illustrating the appalling legacy of council’s mendacious actions.

However, digital images cannot begin to document the physical and psychological injury suffered by the residents whose environment has been so awfully degraded.

We can only hope a more enlightened council will now rid us of this visual insult to our valley.

Love Your Landscape - Community Photo Activity

We invite you to get involved in the early stage of this project by getting out in the landscape and taking photos that show the character and significance of the Big Hill and Mandurang Valley landscapes from your perspective.

Within the Mandurang Valley of Big Hills parts of the Study Area (you can choose either or both) take a photo of locations, places, features or views that:

• are significant to you (please explain why this is significant)
• are somewhere you would take a visitor to show them the beauty of the landscape
• you find unattractive, or has been spolied.

Please submit 3-5 photos with your name, where each photo was taken and a caption describing the image in an email to Mark Stubbs: m.stubbs@bendigo.vic.gov.au

We will be accepting photo submissions up until 31 March 2012.

Thanks for taking the time to be involved and we hope you have some fun with it!

Your contribution is important

Understanding how the community perceives and values the Big Hill and Mandurang landscapes is a key aspect of the project. 



There are various ways in which the community can take part in the project:

• Community photographic exercise - starting now 
• Community workshops in April (dates to be announced)
• Project blog and website

The Study Area

The landscape assessment study area includes the Big Hill ridgeline and Mandurang Valley environs. 


The Big Hill environs is centred on the Calder Highway, generally between Kangaroo Flat and Ravenswood.  It includes the edges of the adjoining Greater Bendigo National Park, as well farming land to the south with views towards Big Hill. 


The Mandurang Valley environs comprises the parts of the Greater Bendigo National Park and rural and residential land set around Mandurang South & Nankervis Roads.     .

About the Project

The Ironbark forests and geological features within the hills surrounding Bendigo are a highly valued and unique aspect of it’s landscape setting.

The City of Greater Bendigo has recently commenced a Landscape Assessment project, focussing on the Big Hill and Mandurang Valley areas.  Working with the community, the project will examine the character and significance of these landscapes, and consider how they might be affected by future change.  Guidance for development will be prepared to assist in managing and protecting those aspects of the landscapes that are highly valued into the future. 

The Landscape Assessment will: 

• Define and describe (with photos and maps) the visual landscape character of the Big Hill and Mandurang environs
• Determine which aspects of the Big Hill and Mandurang Valley landscapes, including views and vistas to and from the area, are the most significant and why
• Explore the community’s values of the character and significance of the Big Hill and Mandurang Valley landscapes
• Assess and evaluate various forms of development that have occurred in these areas; some of which will be positive, while others may have detracted from their character or significance 
• Identify a guiding vision for the Big Hill and Mandurang Valley landscapes
• Recommend ways in which the valued aspects of the landscapes can be managed and protected – either through local community and agency initiatives or revised policy guidance in the planning scheme