Council ready for face-to-face consultation
DUBBO Regional Council is revamping the way it consults with the community as COVID-19 restrictions ease.
Face-to-face community consultation is returning, part of a blend of traditional and online “community interactions” planned.
DRC mayor, Mathew Dickerson, said council was seeking input from residents on the 2040 Community Strategic Plan.
“The previous council resolved to update and extend the current Community Strategic Plan and supporting documents for the next 12 months, with extensive community consultation and additional changes made prior to July 2023,” Cr Dickerson said.
“This was in response to the high number of COVID-19 cases in the region at the time, with Council prioritising operations and communications with the community about the importance of staying home, staying safe, and getting vaccinated.
“With restrictions easing, it is critical we get back to re-establishing better community consultation; updating and reviewing the Community Strategic Plan is a key project.
“Also critical, we do this consultation face-to-face where possible and provide that ‘human interaction’, while offering an online option and making use of available technology to better engage with the community.”
He added councillors played a key role in advocating for the community.
“To better understand the community’s needs and aspirations, councillors recognise the importance of face-to-face communications,” Cr Dickerson said.
“That’s why as a united group of elected representatives, we’re committed to making sure people can speak with us directly without fear or favour, and we can ‘champion’ the community’s future needs and aspirations through a critical framework like the Community Strategic Plan.”
The Community Strategic Plan “guides and influences the actions and initiatives of council in partnership with the community, state and federal governments through to 2040”.
Manager for Growth Planning, Steven Jennings, said 2040 wasn’t that far away.
“Kids who are in primary school now will be in their mid-20s by then, some of whom by 2040 will either be raising families or considering starting a family,” he said.
“Some of our older kids now may go on to have careers that take them further afield, but they may return to settle down later in life and bring their skills and experience back to the region.
“In that time, the region will be a very different place, just like the region now is vastly different compared to 20 years ago. The plans we contribute to and develop now will support our future generations that will call the Dubbo region home.
“Similarly, the older generation of today, can play a significant role in helping us to prepare our communities for the next generation we will see 20 years into the future.”
For further information on Dubbo Regional Council’s 2040 Community Strategic Plan, and for information on how to take part in the community consultation process, visit Council’s website www. dubbo.nsw.gov.au.
Face-to-face and online community consultation will run throughout March, with submissions on the draft updated 2040 Community Strategic Plan currently on public exhibition, closing on Friday 8 April 2022.