Plans for Deloraine’s next 20 years have been officially mapped out after Meander Valley Council received the final Deloraine Outline Development Plan at its meeting earlier this month.
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Council received more than 500 responses to the ODP across online surveys, community surveys and focus group workshops.
Surveys showed strengthening the town’s economy was a top priority for Deloraine residents, with 63 respondents saying “establishing a diverse and resilient local economy” was the town’s most pressing requirement.
Making the town a key tourism destination was a priority for 49 respondents, while providing more services for young people and growing the region’s service centre each received 41 nominations.
Residents involved in the consultation process also expressed support for aiding disability and aged care services, encouraging tourism, developing sport and recreation facilities, supporting the arts, and improving the form and function of the town centre.
Meander Valley mayor Craig Perkins thanked the community for its interest in helping shaping the project.
“Sometimes it's hard to gather enthusiasm for this kind of work; particularly over a long-term horizon getting people's engagement can be challenging so to get the level of participation we did in the plan is very pleasing,” Cr Perkins said.
“We value every contribution by whichever means it came.”
Cr Perkins said council would continue to engage with the community to work through some of the “big-ticket” projects outlined in the plan or suggested by residents in the consultation stage.
“I think it's important to remember that this is a 20-year plan so it doesn't mean that we're going to start writing out cheques tomorrow on activities.
“We've got a clear message from the Deloraine community with respect to what the future may be able to look like and we'll need to do further work around that.”
In accepting the ODP, council also noted that much-needed infrastructure projects in Hadspen, Westbury, and Prospect Vale would likely take priority over new developments in Deloraine.
The ODP can be viewed on the Meander Valley Council website.
For more information contact Craig Plaisted on 6393 5300.