Community planning opportunity now available

Community planning opportunity now available

Published on 30 October 2019

Rural communities in Baw Baw Shire are encouraged to submit an expression of interest to Council to help develop a ‘Community Plan’.

Community planning is a community-led process that brings people together to discuss and plan for future needs. The process enables a community to identify its values, vision and aspirations and develop an action plan with priorities the community are committed to working towards. It helps establish what people want to change or introduce into their town or district.

Planning and resulting actions are conducted by the community for the community, with Baw Baw Shire Council supporting the process. Council can provide information, training and funding support along the way.

By going through the process, communities will produce a community plan which 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.

Community plans can be specific to one community or represent a number of communities that want to work together. Interested communities should have motivated representatives who are willing to lead this activity and act as liaison with Council and the community.

How can communities get involved?

In 2020, Baw Baw Shire Council will support two communities to develop their community plans.

Interested communities are invited to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to Council to be considered for the support service. EOI’s can be submitted to Council via the SmartyGrants form available at www.bawbawshire.vic.gov.au/CommunityPlanning

EOI submissions are now open, closing at 9.00am on Tuesday 26 November 2019.

To be considered, communities will be considered against the following criteria:

A community is place-based in Baw Baw Shire. A community is in the East or West Ward (preferably one from each). A community plan is proposed in a place not previously active in community planning. A community plan will be supported by an action group that has sought community-wide representation to lead the activity. An action group can identify alignment with other existing Council plans e.g. the Municipal Emergency Management Plan, Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan, Municipal Early Years Plan etc.

Consideration of EOI submissions will be coordinated by the Strategic and Community Planning team. It is anticipated that outcomes of the Expression of Interest will be known by mid-December 2019.

For more information, download the Community Planning Framework (Print Version)(PDF, 162KB)

Quotes attributable to Mayor Cr Mikaela Power

“Community planning enables 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.”