Why Our Town Towards 2030?
Regional towns in Australia have experienced significant growth in recent years increasing pressure on services, housing, jobs and infrastructure. The five towns - Bellbridge, Bethanga, Corryong, Mitta Mitta and Tallangatta - all face unique challenges, as well as opportunities, that have been further exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic and the bushfires of 2019-20.
Our Town Towards 2030 will look at ways to strengthen the long-term resilience and sustainability of the towns by helping each community to identify and prioritise its future needs, services and opportunities. The co-design project will enable current communities’ input into how growth and change can be carefully and positively managed.
The project will:
- Engage broadly with diverse stakeholders and ensure the community has ownership in developing a shared vision and place plan for the future of each town.
- Create engaging place plans that align stakeholder and community expectations including how growth and change can be carefully and positively managed.
- Provide a 10-year roadmap that prepares each town for the future and guides decision making including planning and development in the 5 towns.
The Engagement Process
Across 2023, there will be three engagement touchpoints as part of a co-design process to inform the visions and place plans. The visions and place plans will be finalised in the second half of 2023.
The engagement will be highly inclusive and collaborative, co-designing solutions with the community that build upon the strengths, assets and opportunities for each town.