Special support for two communities

Two rural communities in Baw Baw Shire will be supported to develop a community plan.

Rural communities are encouraged to submit an expression of interest to council to help develop a community plan that identifies priorities and an action list for their towns.

Interested communities are encouraged to submit an expression of interest to be a part of the 2020 program.

Mayor Mikaela Power said community planning enabled communities to create a shared vision for their town or district.

“Working together, communities can identify the actions which will develop their community’s strengths, to create more connected, vibrant, sustainable and healthy places.

“We encourage all communities - especially those without previous community planning experience - to submit an EOI to make this project their own,” she said.

Community plans can be specific to one community or represent a number of communities that want to work together.

Cr Power said the community planning process aims bring people together to discuss and plan for future needs.

The process enables communities to identify its values, vision and aspirations and develop an action plan with priorities the community are committed to working towards.

Cr Power said the process identified what people wanted to change or introduce into their town or district.

She said the end result will be development of a community plan that includes a statement of a shared vision of the community in the future, a summary of themes and priorities, and actions and activities that community members will perform together to achieve the outlined vision.

Ideally, council will select one community each from the east and west ward.

Other criteria include:

A community plan is proposed in a place not previously active in community planning;

The plan will be supported by an action group that has sought community-wide representation to lead the activity; and,

An action group can identify alignment with other existing council plans.

Expressions of interest submissions close on Tuesday, November 26 and can be submitted via the SmartyGrants form available at www.bawbawshire.vic.gov.au/CommunityPlann ing

Outcomes of the EoI will be known by the middle of December.

Some of the blankets made by volunteers at the Drouin Anglican Church opportunity shop and thankfully received by Warragul’s Cooinda Lodge are displayed by, from left, lifestyle assistant at Cooinda Carmel McLeod, the opportunity shop’s Duclie Cheeseman and Cooinda’s lifestyle co-ordinator Sue Deacin.