Reviewing Community Township Plans

Published on 18 May 2023

It's four years since the completion of eight community plans for Bealiba, Bet Bet, Carisbrook, Dunolly, Majorca, Maryborough, Talbot and Timor – which makes it an ideal time for us to learn about and reflect on the achievements, challenges and needs of each township and how community planning might better support the aspirations of each town.

Over the past month, we’ve been having conversations with local leaders and groups in these townships – and they’ve provided valuable insights to date. Some of the feedback included that community awareness of the plans is low, a number of priorities have been achieved over the past three years, there aren’t any groups responsible for leading the implementation of the plans and there is a shortage of volunteers in our communities to help deliver this work.

Our next step is to reconnect with those we have already spoken with and invite other community members to come forward and attend an upcoming workshop.

The ‘Let’s get better at Community Planning’ workshop will be held on Wednesday 31 May from 6.30 to 8.30pm at 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.
• Hear about the change and investment that has happened across townships as a result of the community plan.
• Hear feedback from local leaders and groups and to work together towards a shared understanding of what it takes to get good at community planning.

Finger food and refreshments will be provided at the workshop. RSVP is essential to media@cgoldshire.vic.gov.au

Central Goldfields Shire Mayor Cr 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.

“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.

“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.

“This review process will help us keep getting better at community planning and capacity building.

“We hope to see you at our Let’s get better at Community Planning Workshop on Wednesday 31 May.”

To find out more and to register to be involved visit www.engage.cgoldshire.vic.gov.au/townshipplans