Community Plan ready for rollout on 1 July 2012!
After twelve months of extensive community consultation, the Rockhampton Regional Community Plan 2012-2022 was formally adopted by Rockhampton Regional Council.
Adoption of the Community Plan sees Council meet the Queensland Government’s statutory requirements, obliging all Queensland councils to adopt a long-term Community Plan document prior to 1 December 2011.
Mayor of Rockhampton Regional Council, Cr Brad Carter said he was thrilled to see the adoption of the Community Plan.
“I’m delighted to see the completed Rockhampton Regional Community Plan, which incorporates the views, ideas and future aspirations of the people of the Rockhampton Region,” Cr Carter said.
Community consultation for the Community Plan began in October 2010 and incorporated Stakeholder Workshops, 21 BE HEARD Community Workshops, 18 BE HEARD Special Interest Forums, a mail-based survey distributed to every household in the Region, 2 Regional Prioritisation Workshops, a dedicated community engagement BE HEARD website, stalls at shopping centres and markets, and 14 Draft Locality Plan Workshops, prior to the Draft Community Plan public consultation period.
51 recommendations received during the 22 day public consultation period were incorporated into the adopted Community Plan, which will be a living document during its 10 year lifespan.
“As a living document, the Community Plan will be subject to ongoing annual reviews to ensure it remains relevant to our Region’s community, and delivers long term, lasting benefits,” Cr Carter said.
Between 2012 and 2022, the Community Plan will be a plan for every resident of the Rockhampton Region, and requires ownership and partnership not only from the three tiers of government and industry bodies, but also by the entire community.
“It is in the best interests of our Region to have a document that acts as a blueprint for our future, led by the entire community.”
“Because we have a clear and definite understanding of what our community wants our Region to be like by 2022, we now have a strong foundation on which to make our future decisions.”
Based on an unprecedented level of community engagement by Council, the Community Plan describes the Region’s ideal community as safe, friendly and well balanced; supporting community values, sustainable living and active recreation.
“I would like to acknowledge the tremendous support by the people of the Rockhampton Region in bringing this Community Plan to Council,” Cr Carter said.
“It took the foresight, dedication and input of thousands of our residents to deliver such a reflective, accurate plan for our future.”
The Rockhampton Regional Community Plan 2012-2022, and associated Locality Plans will be implemented on 1 July, 2012. Council will also develop a new Corporate Plan in response to the Community Plan to be implemented on 1 July 2012 in order to align operational planning accordingly.
“I look forward to July 2012, when we will see Community Plan become part of our way of life, and we start to see some real and tangible benefits resulting from this document.”
The Community Plan is a ten year plan that identifies the community’s aspirations, needs and priorities to provide a framework for our future, and detail how we can achieve the community’s desired outcomes.
The Community Plan is a plan for the whole of community, not just a plan for Council, and addresses all areas of community life which affect the lifestyle of the Region’s residents.
The Community Plan will lead to community improvement, tailored community services, planning for future infrastructure needs, fostered community relationships, and better decision making and investment.