Community Planning

Community Planning is a program where community members come together to develop and implement Community Plans to improve their own communities.

What is Community Planning?

Local residents known as Community Coordinators volunteer their time to coordinate the development and implementation of a community plan for their particular community. To develop a community plan, Community Coordinators seek other residents' ideas and opinions via surveys, interviews and public meetings. Residents ideas are voted on (by the community) to identify the top priority projects for the community for the upcoming three year period.

Once the community plan is developed, the Coordinators coordinate the implementation of that plan. The Coordinators assist local residents, groups and others who are passionate about a particular project in the community plan to action it.  

To learn more about Community Planning please watch this video.

History & Achievements

Community Planning in Golden Plains Shire has been operating since 1999, has produced incredible outcomes and has been heralded as ‘perhaps the best-known example of community planning’ by The Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government. Some examples of Community Planning Achievements include;

• The iconic Cape Clear Lighthouse and sailing ship themed playground
• The unique Turtle Bend venue for live concerts, events and activities in Teesdale
• The beautiful Bunjil Viewing Platform at Maude
• The Meredith Visitor Centre
• Community Information Signs (Enfield, Lethbridge, Shelford, Teesdale, Grenville and Dereel)
• Hall Improvements in Garibaldi, Teesdale, Barunah Park, Shelford, Napoleons, Ross Creek, Wallinduc and Mannibadar)
• Social nights at Halls in Garibaldi and Barunah Park
• Corindhap Avenue of Honour and Miner’s Cage
• Batesford Family Fun Day - first ever community event in Batesford.
• And the list goes on….

Get involved in Community Planning

Community planning is open to everyone in the community. The commitment and input required is flexible. Residents can volunteer to be a Community Coordinator and in doing so assist to develop and implement the plan. You may like to contribute to implementing one specific project you are particularly passionate about or just like to input your ideas and comments into the community plan.

There are many benefits to being involved in community planning. These include;

• Help improve your community such as establish more social events, develop new infrastructure, facilitates or help to ‘beautifying’ the town
• Meet new people
• Gain satisfaction and a sense of achievement from contributing to the community
• Learn new skills

How does Council assist Community Planning?

• Facilitator – Council contracts (i.e. hires and pays for) an independent professional facilitator who assists communities to develop and implement Community Plans. The facilitator provides the community members with advice, training, ideas and support to make it possible.
• Seed Funding – Council provides each community $7500 to help kick start the implementation of their community plan. Each community can get $7500 per 3 year community plan.
• Advice – Council provides community with information and advice when implementing the projects within their community plans. The information and advice provided includes information on legal and regulatory requirements such as issuing planning permits, building permits, maintenance and engineering advice etc.
• Partner – On some occasions Council will partner with the community to deliver a community project.  In such instances the community and Council work together, contributing time and resources to make the project happen.

Community Planning Program Action Plan 2021-2024

In 2020, Council undertook a comprehensive review of the program, engaging with many of the Community Planning Program’s Community Coordinators during the process. The Action Plan was put together following this review and was adopted by Council at its 27 March 2021 Council Meeting.

The Action Plan recommits Council to the program and details a series of actions over the next three years to strengthen the Community Planning Program and to support, recognise and value the role of its volunteer Community Coordinators. To read the plan, click on the button below:

COMMUNITY PLANNING PROGRAM ACTION PLAN

Which Golden Plains Communities are involved in Community Planning?

There are currently 23 communities in Golden Plains involved in the community planning program. These include;

1. Bannockburn
2. Barunah Park
3. Batesford
4. Berringa/Staffordshire Reef
5. Cape Clear/Illabarook/Rokewood Junction
6. Dereel
7. Enfield
8. Garibaldi
9. Haddon
10. Inverleigh plan on a page & Inverleigh Community Plan
11. Lethbridge
12. Linton
13. Mannibadar
14. Maude/Steiglitz/She Oaks
15. Meredith
16. Napoleons
17. Rokewood/Corindhap
18. Ross Creek/Smythes Creek
19. Scarsdale
20. Shelford
21. Smythesdale
22. Teesdale
23. Wallinduc

For more information please contact Council on 5220 7111 and ask to speak to the Community Development Team Leader.

Resources and Templates for Community Planning

We are currently updating our resources and templates and they will be available shortly. If you require any information, please contact Council's Community Partnerships Officer on 5220 7157 or email [email protected]