Media Release

Wednesday, 2 September 2009

Swan Hill Rural City Council is inviting people who live, work and visit Swan Hill to participate in the community planning process, which aims to identify and develop a plan to shape the future of the city.

Swan Hill Rural City Council Mayor Cr Greg Cruickshank encouraged members of the community to get involved in the planning process.

“Having a well thought-out community plan in place creates a sense of what the community is about and encourages people to learn more about their surrounds and to be actively involved,” he said.

Cr Cruickshank said a community plan differed from other plans and strategies.

“A community plan is an agreed framework of priorities identified by the people and presented to Council, which then helps the Council and the community manage change while protecting what is valued most in their respective communities.

“It provides the opportunity to build on our identified strengths and overcome our challenges and also provides the opportunity to learn more about local issues, discuss options and find solutions collectively with others in the community,” Cr Cruickshank added.

“But most of all it gives local people a voice in future planning of the city.”

Priorities could be set in the areas of health, education, the environment, recreation, provision of infrastructure or other issues local people see as important to the future of the city.

To initiate the planning process for the City of Swan Hill, Council's Community Planning Officer Fiona Gormann will soon be taking to the streets to talk with as many people as possible to ascertain what makes a city perfect?

The responses will provide invaluable information for community planning public meetings to be held in late November, which will draw from all the information collected and assist to develop the first community plan for the City of Swan Hill.

“We're encouraging people to take the time to provide Council with their thoughts on what makes a city perfect,” Ms Gormann said.

“Council has supported 10 communities in the municipality so far to develop community plans over the past two years and these communities are starting to achieve what they identified in their plans.

“Communities such as Manangatang have developed a travellers' rest, Boundary Bend now has a commercial kitchen in their public hall and the town of Nyah/ Nyah West has been accredited as a Recreational Vehicle Friendly Town,” Ms Gormann said.

“These are just some of the priorities that have been achieved through the community planning process.” 

For further information about community planning please contact Fiona Gormann by phoning 5036 2333 or email Fiona at fgormann@swanhill.vic.gov.au