The plan will become the Shire’s principal strategic planning document that will guide the development of all plans the Shire undertakes.
It is a long term plan that outlines the vision, goals, outcomes and strategies based on community input.
‘This has no doubt been one of the most extensive consultations that the Shire has undertaken,’ Shire President Michael Aspinall said.
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READ NOW‘The process involved a combination of online and hard-copy surveys, along with face-to-face workshops with ratepayers across the Shire.
‘The 10-year plan will guide what type of services, programs and facilities the Shire will provide to residents to 2020 and beyond.’
The plan is structured around five key focus areas ” community, the natural environment, the built environment, the local economy and leadership.
Shire CEO Jeremy Edwards said this was the first time the community had been able to influence the programs and services that the Shire delivers.
He said residents informed the council what was and was not working well and the Shire developed strategies to address their concerns.
‘The biggest issue that came out of this was aged care and the need for aged care accommodation,’ he said.
‘We are now doing feasibility studies with the Wheatbelt Development Commission to work out what sort of services could be provided in this region.
‘The other main concern was health services.
‘We need to try to get more medical specialists to relocate to our region, including dentists, chiropractors and physiotherapists, and explore options for another medical centre.’