Gannawarra's COVID-19 recovery continues

Gannawarra's COVID-19 recovery continues

Published on 12 July 2021

Efforts to guide the Gannawarra’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic have reached a milestone with the endorsement of a Gannawarra Community Resilience Action Plan.

The Gannawarra Community Resilience Committee, which includes representatives from Gannawarra Shire Council and 27 health and community-related agencies, emergency services and government departments, has developed the Gannawarra Community Resilience Action Plan that will guide the Gannawarra’s recovery over the next two years.

“Formed to support the Gannawarra’s response to drought, the Gannawarra Community Resilience Committee pivoted in 2020 to play a major role in assisting the community throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,” Mayor Charlie Gillingham said.

“Now that we are at a stage where COVID-19 is being contained and a vaccination program is being rolled out, it is important that social and economic initiatives are delivered in partnership with the community and focus on supporting longer term community resilience.”

The Community Resilience Action Plan 2021-2023 features 10 priority areas. These include:

Supporting coordination of agencies, resource planning and recovery; Engaging communities in decision making, information sharing and communication; Maintaining social links within communities and promoting social inclusion and equity; Promoting healthy communities and improved mental health and wellbeing; Improving local food systems to improve access to healthy food and reduce food insecurity; Implementing initiatives that better support families, children and young people; Supporting safer and more resilient communities; Restoring and building local economies; Supporting the development of liveable communities; and Supporting ongoing liveability and financial viability through environmental initiatives..

Partnership work to action the 50 tasks outlined in the Community Resilience Action Plan 2021-2023 has already commenced, including rolling out the re-Connect with your Gannawarra and Creative Gannawarra programs, as well as surveying sport and recreation clubs and other local community-based organisations to seek feedback on their needs and key issues to inform future planning.

“Neighbourhood Houses at Kerang, Cohuna and Quambatook have also been funded to deliver a Ganna-Wanna-Get-Connected program to increase communication technology and knowledge and training, particularly for seniors,” Mayor Gillingham said.

“In addition, the Kerang and Cohuna Neighbourhood Houses have been funded to deliver a Gannawarra Healthy Food for All program to improve the nutritional value of food relief.

“The committee looks forward to continuing its work to support our community to be connected, healthy and resilient into the future.”

The Gannawarra Community Resilience Action Plan 2021-2023 can be downloaded at www.gsc.vic.gov.au/coronavirus