| 12 February 2016 |
Residents of the Murchison region are being asked to help shape the next 25 years of four Council areas.
The Sustainable Murchison Community Plan is an initiative of the Burnie, Circular Head, King Island, Waratah-Wynyard and West Coast Councils to provide a unified vision for Murchison over the next 25 years.
The Murchison region is defined as the four Council areas and the neighbouring regional centre of Burnie City. The plan will strongly integrate and link with Burnie City Council’s Making Burnie 2030 Community Plan and will consider linkages with the remaining Cradle Coast Councils. It will also build on the West Coast Community Plan 2025, linking it to broader Murchison region priorities.
The Councils invited tenders for the project in September last year, with welcome funding support from the State Government.
Circular Head Mayor Daryl Quilliam said the five Councils had engaged experienced consultants Geografia, who have recently completed the Greater Launceston Plan, to undertake this process.
“This process is an important step to help us plan for the future of Murchison and there will be a number of opportunities for people to have their say,” Mayor Quilliam said.
“With the help of Geografia, and the work of Tasmanian consultants Campbell and Jones, as well as Council staff, we will be holding a number of focus groups, community workshops, community open days and other events to capture people’s aspirations.”
There will be an online survey, discussion board and polls for the project hosted at www.placespeak.com/murchison2040
Copies of the survey and a postcard with key questions will be also made available to those without internet access.
King Island Mayor Duncan McFie said the project was an opportunity for residents of the four Councils to say what’s important to them.
“We want you to tell us what your vision is for the future of your community and the Murchison region,” Mayor McFie said.
“This is all about defining what’s not working well and not working so well so we can identify not only the challenges for the region, but also the opportunities.”
Waratah-Wynyard Mayor Robby Walsh said it was an historical project that would have a huge impact on the region.
“The Murchison of today will no doubt look very different in the year 2040, and now is our chance to get ready for what’s to come,” Mayor Walsh said.
“This means we need to look at everything from education, health, transport, the economy and much more.”
West Coast Mayor Phil Vickers said the West Coast Community Plan 2025 had laid the foundations for his community, now the focus needed to be on the region.
“It is thanks to the contribution of the West Coast that we have such a clear vision of what we will do at the local level in the next 10 years,” Mayor Vickers said.
“Now we need to work with our closest neighbours to see how this all fits in with the bigger picture and what will happen in the Murchison region over the next 25 years.”
Burnie Mayor Anita Dow said Burnie City Council is pleased to be involved in this important sub regional project.
“It makes great sense for Burnie as the regional centre to be working closely with the other four councils to plan for the future of the greater Murchison region which will build on our community's plan for the future Making Burnie 2030,” Mayor Dow said.
The community and stakeholder engagement has now commenced with a webpage set up to for people to keep up to date with what is happening on the project and links to different ways to have your say.
Options to get involved include:
The Sustainable Murchison 2040 Community Plan will include a detailed population and demographic analysis, population forecasts and projections, a social needs assessment, an economic resource analysis, transport analysis and forecasts, spatial assessment of land and water values, a land use suitability analysis and study of land use forecast requirements.