Isn't it amazing what ideas people come up with? I was at a party on Saturday night and got talking to a couple about the Great Regional City Challenge and how it raises $100,000 to fund big ideas that could make this region, not just a good place to live, work and play, but a GREAT regional city of the world.
The couple was initially cautious about sharing their ideas because they feared once an idea was out there it might be taken up by someone else. I explained that ideas are cheap and plentiful but it is only when they are turned into action that they have real value. We went on to have a most enjoyable chat about some great ideas they had.
The Great Regional City Challenge wants to hear from the community about big ideas that could make the region more creative, diverse, economically strong, liveable and connected. Project submissions are open until September 19.
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In the first round of projects in 2020 -21, an amazing 50 ideas were submitted to get part of the total $100,000 cash funding. These were voted on by the wider community and, in all, 12 projects were selected as the best and what great projects they were. They were large and small, region-wide and local. A good example was a research project that led to the creation of a ground-breaking web platform detailing the lifeworld of the Stoney Creek Aboriginal people of the Tamar Valley.
The Great Regional City Challenge also funded projects ranging from a bid for UNESCO to make Launceston internationally recognised as a foodie paradise, the Fix the Tamar project, an outdoor movie screen at Harvest Market, the feasibility of a waterpark concept and the Great Cycling City project.
Project applications are already flowing in before the deadline for 2021-22 projects. So far, we've received project submissions to make the Launceston CBD more attractive, projects from schools about setting up the region for the future and to be more youth friendly, and film projects that tell the stories of our rich history.
So, what's your big idea? Here's some thought prompters: Do you have a project to make us a more creative and innovative region? Perhaps we could build on the untapped skills of young and old, or create new arts and festival events. We could be a more liveable region if we made better use of existing heritage/environmental assets and activated the waterfront; maybe we could reduce loneliness or increase community engagement.
Get your thinking caps on. Project submissions are simple and take only 200 words and a photo. More details at www.greatregionalcity.com.au
- Owen Tilbury, Great Regional City Challenge Inc president.
