Help decide Poowong's future
Poowong needs a new Community Plan and locals are encouraged to have their say at the Poowong Hall this Wednesday August 2, with a Community Ideas Workshop commencing at 7pm and supper provided. The session is being run by long-established local...
Poowong needs a new Community Plan and locals are encouraged to have their say at the Poowong Hall this Wednesday August 2, with a Community Ideas Workshop commencing at 7pm and supper provided.
The session is being run by long-established local organisation Poowong Community Consultative Committee (PCCC) which will develop the town’s new Community Plan.
South Gippsland Shire Council’s Coordinator of Community Strengthening, Sophie Dixon, will be on hand to talk about the benefits of community planning and to offer guidance.
Attendees will be presented with ideas gathered at PCCC’s previous community consultation sessions, having the opportunity to comment on those and put forward further suggestions.
Strzelecki Ward councillor Mick Felton is attending and hopes to see plenty of locals involved in the Ideas Workshop to ensure they play their part in letting South Gippsland Shire Council know their aspirations for Poowong.
He stressed that an up-to-date Community Plan provides a valuable guide for council in establishing its own plans.
“It’s community led, community driven and essential for future growth of Poowong,” Cr Felton said.
“Without it, decisions will be made that might not be in the best interests of the community, and there’s no point spending ratepayers’ money on things that are not on the community’s priority list.
“We get to work together and come up with something that will benefit everybody.”
Ideas already compiled from previous PCCC consultation sessions have been neatly divided into categories, with ‘Footpaths’ an example.
Specific suggestions include a path between the swimming pool and the Pioneer Chapel on Nyora Road, and the need for a missing link beyond Connell’s Engineering on Ranceby Road.
“Long term, the aim is to achieve footpaths on both sides of the road within the township,” it is stated.
Some shorter term aspirations have been proposed in the ‘Community’ category, such as providing welcome packs to new Poowong residents, and ideas for the town’s 150th anniversary celebration next year including an old-time dance and a book launch.
Ideas have also been floated concerning desired infrastructure projects and the development of a town website to promote Poowong and nearby bushwalking destinations.
On Wednesday, PCCC president Lorraine Brunt will speak about what is next in terms of getting Poowong’s Community Plan together.
She will also address issues that have been raised that are not items for the Community Plan but are important to Poowong residents and need to be drawn to the attention of council.
