A community-based initiative seeking to deliver "cost-effective" results to help transform Launceston into one of the great regional cities in the world, has been supported by the City of Launceston council.
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The Great Regional City Challenge is being put forward by Owen Tilbury from Community Led Impact Partnerships.
The challenge will seek up to 50 community-led projects that people and organisations in the community are passionate about and are motivated to lead.
The organisation sought more than $20,000 from the council to allow it to move ahead with its plans, which the council approved at its meeting last week.
Mr Tilbury approached the council for support of the project in April, with the council deciding to give the challenge a "one-off" financial contribution of $5000 to complete a feasibility study of the project.
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The council requested the feasibility study to demonstrate a sustainable funding stream not dependent on local government funding, which the meeting agenda said had been achieved.
At the council's meeting last week, the councillors agreed that with about $135,000 promised by the private sector already it showed the project was supported.
The Great Regional City Challenge will pilot until June 20, 2021, and will cost about $160,000. The cost includes $100,000 for project grants and $60,000 for facilitation and resources.
Community-led project outlines will be sought by face-to-face presentations to groups of citizens, precincts, suburbs, satellite towns, community agencies, community interest groups, and small, medium and large enterprises and industry organisations.
Twelve of these projects will be chosen by an online community vote based on how well they align with the four themes of the Greater Launceston Plan as a creative, liveable, diverse and connected networked region.
Each of the 12 projects would be given $2000 - $10,000, and supported over 12 months with the intention for further rounds to follow if the pilot is successful.
CLIP is seeking a contribution of $40,000 from local governments, with the City of Launceston providing 50 per cent.
A request for West Tamar Council to contribute $7400, Meander Valley $6040, Northern Midlands $4000 and George Town asked to contribute $2120. George Town and West Tamar councils have supported the request.
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State and federal government funding has also been requested, along with funding from the WD Booth Philanthropic trust.
The council also felt it was necessary for the organisation to have the support of the Greater Launceston Plan.
"It can be said that discussions with the general managers of these Councils has been positive and General Managers were impressed with the level of funding commitment provided by the private sector towards the project," the agenda said.
At Thursday's meeting, the councillor's cautiously discussed the motion.
When mayor Albert van Zetten asked for someone to move the motion, the room was met with a silence before councillor Janie Finlay moved it for discussion purposes.
She said Mr Tilbury had a track record of delivering similar successful projects, and would cautiously support his latest request.
"I think it really could actually create real interest in the community-based creative outcomes to reinforce the advocate of being a great regional city," she said.
"I'm really interested and curious to see the outcomes of this project."
Councillor Andrea Dawkins said $20,000 was a lot of money and doesn't want it used to do nothing.
"I hope it's the last time we're asked to contribute," she said.
Councillor Rob Soward said he was hopeful about the project.
Eventually the motion was passed with only councillor Paul Spencer voting against the proposal.
Deputy mayor Danny Gibson and councillors Tim Walker and Nick Daking were not at the meeting.
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