Residents of Southern Grampians outer townships are invited to contribute to Southern Grampians Shire Council Small Towns Strategy either by completing the survey, viewing the maps, and dropping pins via our online engagement platform. Staff and project consultants will also be on hand at Sheepvention this Monday to speak to residents about key priorities for each town.
As part of the successful Community Listening Posts, Council has already visited a number of towns across the region with further township visits scheduled for later in the year. The Small Towns Strategy will help Council to deliver a strategy for each township to develop, grow, and place improvements that are consistent with the town vision, specific to the local community.
Southern Grampians Shire Council Acting Mayor Cr David Robertson encourages residents to share their ideas and contribute to their town.
"We know the livability and resilience of our regional towns has never been more important," said Cr Robertson. "With the rapid changes through COVID, as well as natural population growth and other influences including climate change, our townships face significant challenges. Council is working with residents to develop priorities specific to each township with a clear focus to maximise opportunities and support towns.
"After extensive community engagement and feedback collected through the 2021-2025 Council Plan, 2041 Vision, and Community Health and Wellbeing Plan, we were able to put together some key priorities we know are important. From there, we are now asking residents that live and work in those localities to check out the priorities developed, fill out the survey, view the maps online and actively contribute to a 'road-map' for the future."
Delivery of the project will develop:
- A sense of direction, and strategy for the local communities.
- A clear sense of community 'wants' and values for each town, and for the wider Shire.
- A more targeted and focused delivery of place-based improvements.
- A schedule of investigation areas for future growth and zoning changes that clearly-outlines the scale of change and the spectrum of possibility for each town into the future.
- A clarity of Council capital works and investment/expenditure to be focused, prioritised and responsive to the town frameworks.
Residents can view the town priorities, complete township surveys, or drop a pin on the Small Towns Strategy Map "Have Your Say" page on Council's website www.sthgrampians.vic.gov.au. Details for remaining scheduled Listening Posts are also available via the Council website or Facebook page.
Council staff and project consultants will be available at Sheepvention from 1:00pm Monday 1 August 2022 at site 23.
