General News
29 May, 2023
Feedback required on revised town plans
The Central Goldfields Shire Council has begun a review of its eight community plans, with residents encouraged to have their say on how the aspirations of their community can be achieved. It’s been four years since the eight community plans for...
The Central Goldfields Shire Council has begun a review of its eight community plans, with residents encouraged to have their say on how the aspirations of their community can be achieved.
It’s been four years since the eight community plans for Bealiba, Bet Bet, Carisbrook, Dunolly, Majorca, Maryborough, Talbot and Timor were completed, with council now looking to understand how community planning might better support those towns.
Over the past month, council have conversed with local leaders and groups across the community with feedback including that community awareness of the plans is low, priorities have been achieved, there aren’t any groups responsible for leading the implementation of the plans and a shortage of volunteers makes delivering work difficult.
Council’s next step is to reconnect with residents that have already been spoken to and invite other community members to attend an upcoming workshop.
Central Goldfields Shire mayor Grace La Vella said it would be a valuable process to see the plans revisited.
“There was so much energy around the project at the time, with community coming together, stepping up and being empowered to self-determine their priorities and make decisions on what was important to them, now in the future,” she said.
“A lot has happened since then, and so this process will give us the chance to review our community planning and at the same time develop a process that will empower and support our community members to lead their delivery.”
The Let’s get better at Community Planning workshop will be held on Wednesday, May 31 from 6.30 to 8.30 pm at the Maryborough Golf Club.
The purpose of the workshop is to learn more about community planning and why it’s important for our community to be aware.
Cr La Vella encouraged residents to attend the workshop, which helps organisations understand what communities want.
“Community planning projects such as this helps council and other government agencies and key stakeholder groups and organisations to know what communities want and need and is a useful tool for attracting funding and resources,” she said.
“This review process will help us keep getting better at community planning and capacity building.”
At the workshop, residents will have the opportunity to hear about change and investment that has happened in townships as a result of the community plans and listen to feedback from local leaders and groups.
Finger food and refreshments will be provided at the workshop, with RSVPs to media@cgoldshire.vic.gov.au essential.
To find out more and to register to be involved visit www.engage.cgoldshire.vic.gov.au/townshipplans