The plan seeks to bring together residents, community groups, local business and industry, service providers and government to create a strong and vibrant future for the town. It aims to encourage diverse investment in the region, inform infrastructure, planning and investment decisions and maximise social, environmental and economic outcomes.
The community consultation component of the plan will be launched with the unveiling of the Wundowie Wishing Tree. The tree stands more than 2m and is made of oxidised wrought iron, symbolic of the town’s historical roots in the Iron Foundry that gave birth to the WA iron ore industry in the late 1940s.
The tree is an initiative of the Wundowie and Districts Men’s Shed. Wundowie residents will be invited to complete the sentence “I wish Wundowie…” on specially printed leaves that will be tied to the tree.
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READ NOWPeople are encouraged to list what they want for the locality over the next 10 years. Leaves completed during the launch period of 9am to 11am on the day will be in a draw to win a $250 voucher for Wundowie IGA or Hardware.
At the end of the project the leaves will be placed in a time capsule and the tree will be become a permanent sculpture for the town.
The shire is hosting a range of attractions to encourage people to attend the launch. The Parents and Citizens Group has free barbecue breakfasts, with free coffee available at the IGA. Children can enjoy a bouncy castle, face painting and pony rides.
Shire President Steven Pollard said the shire was greatly encouraged by the support already for the project.
“Volunteers have been involved in every step of the planning for the launch and community consultation for the plan. It’s a fine example of the strong community spirit in Wundowie,” he said.
The wishing tree is one of three initiatives the shire is using to collect the residents’ views about future development. A survey will be released on July 18 through Wundowie post boxes, with other copies available through the Wundowie Library and IGA.
Public workshops will also be held in August.
The communities of Bakers Hill and Grass Valley will also be provided the opportunity to develop community plans over the coming 18 months.