Yesterday afternoon, Council held a special event at the Bannockburn Cultural Centre for its volunteer Community Coordinators and launched its Community Planning Action Plan 2021-2024.
Ahead of National Volunteer Week 2021, the event acknowledged the valuable contributions Community Coordinators make to the Community Planning Program and their communities. The 21-year-old program supports communities to identify goals for their own area and map out actions to achieve them through three-year Community Plans. The program aims to strengthen local communities through volunteering, becoming more environmentally and socially sustainable, fostering a sense of community spirit and pride, and increasing involvement in community life.
Community Coordinators volunteer their time to coordinate the development and implementation of their town’s Community Plan. To develop the plan, Community Coordinators seek feedback and ideas, which are then voted on by the community to identify the township’s top priorities. They then coordinate the implementation of the plan, including assisting residents with actioning items and advocating to Council and other funding bodies to help implement their projects.
In addition to recognising the contribution of Community Coordinators, Mayor Cr Helena Kirby launched Council’s Community Planning Program Action Plan 2021-2024. Last year, Council undertook a comprehensive review of the program, engaging with many of the 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. The Action Plan is available on Council’s website here.
Mayor Cr Helena Kirby thanked the program’s 92 Community Coordinators at the event.
“The achievements of Community Coordinators over the past 21 years are numerous and impressive. From the Bunjil Eagle Viewing Platform at Maude to Tai Chi classes at the Garibaldi Hall, these volunteers have significantly contributed to ensuring their communities are connected and vibrant places to live.
“On behalf of Council, I thank all our Community Coordinators for providing their time and effort to making Golden Plains Shire a better place to live.
“The Community Planning Program is an important program at Council, as we recognise that local people are the experts when it comes to their own communities. Our Community Planning Action Plan recognises this and underpins Council’s commitment to the program and our Community Coordinators.”
The event also included a keynote speech from Golden Plains Shire Citizen of the Year Brad McKenzie and networking opportunities for Community Coordinators, Councillors and Council Officers to learn from one another and view the 23 Community Plans on display.