Strategic plan for Drouin
A two-hour meeting next March will be the only chance for those interested in a strategic plan for Drouin’s future development to have face-to-face discussions with Baw Baw Shire on key issues.
The shire has engaged town planning consultancy Tract to develop a strategic plan for the town for the period 2020-2036 which it aims to formally adopt in June next year.
Council has a six-point questionnaire on its website seeking comment on some matters about the town’s future directions – the survey closes at the end of the month – and had an information kiosk at last month’s produce and craft market at Drouin.
Drouin Business Group president Helen Taylor last week called for a public forum in the town for the community to put its views.
However, in a response to Ms Taylor’s suggestion that was put to the shire by The Gazette, the council’s communications section said there would be a “two-hour community event” in March, at a date and location yet to be confirmed, to which key stakeholders and the community would be invited.
It will be “part formal presentation to ensure that the key ideas from the township plan are clearly explained”.
There will be plenty of time for casual conversation and discussion, the shire said.
According to timelines released by the council Tract is scheduled to have a draft plan completed by February.
It would be released for public comment next March-April.
The strategic plan will have a primary focus on the commercial centre of the town but will also consider broader residential and industrial areas and connections into new growth areas.