- Neville Ivey, Director Community Development
The Engaging Communities Program has been in operation since 2013. To date, 12 different communities have now participated in the program.
The program builds capacity in local communities and empowers community members to decide on the allocation of funds to deliver local community priorities.
It is based around broad community engagement and local priorities, not just those with an environmental focus.
Wendouree, Mount Pleasant and Lucas were the three communities selected in the third wave of the program which commenced in 2017.
As part of the process, the community has been working with Council on the development of a new master plan for Wendouree's Wyndholm Reserve. The plan includes proposed upgrades to wetland areas in the reserve.
After much community consultation, we are intending to place a draft plan on public exhibition in the next couple of months.
Ballarat North, Ballarat East and Delacombe are the three new communities who joined the program in 2019.