At its meeting last week, council endorsed the first stage of the Edward River Growth Strategy 2050 project by appointing AEC Group to deliver the strategy.
The Edward River Growth Strategy 2050 project is council’s response to the Our Region Your Say - Sefton’s Report, which articulates the aspiration of the community to grow the population to 19,800 people by 2050.
It became a key strategic priority for the organisation following adoption by the council at its May meeting last year, including a commitment of significant funding to prepare the strategy.
Edward River Council CEO Phil Stone said the strategy would include a planning framework to support urban expansion and infill development.
“This strategy will underpin and support our community’s aspiration for the development of services including health and education, and new investment in housing, industry, recreation and arts and culture by providing a coordinated approach to how we encourage and manage growth in this region over the next 30 years.”
Edward River Mayor Peta Betts said the strategy is of critical importance to the future of the region.
“We’ve heard from our community that we need to grow to prosper,” she said.
“This new strategy will provide our council with a clear vision for growth, and we are very keen to get started.
“It will be a blueprint that sets out our region’s competitive advantage and economic opportunities, and will direct residential, commercial and industrial expansion in a sustainable and strategic way.
“If we want to ensure our towns and villages don’t decline like so many other smaller places in regional Australia we must have a growth mindset.
“That means planning for a larger population and ensuring the services and infrastructure are in place to support a quality lifestyle for our current and future residents.”
A motion to appoint Councillors Harold Clapham and Shannon Sampson to a Growth Strategy Advisory Committee, and then call for community interest to finalise the committee, was also tabled at last week’s meeting.
Councillors moved an alternate motion however, and instead voted to delay formation of the committee until the consultant has been engaged.
The Edward River Growth Strategy Advisory Committee will support council and the community to achieve the following Community Strategic Plan objectives:
• Shaping the future - this includes sub-categories of pristine natural environment, quality built environment, enhanced active and passive open spaces and sustainable waste management
• An open and connected community - this includes sub-categories of transport and freight links, communications and technology links, cultural and personal links.
• Encouraging growth through partnerships - this includes sub-categories of education, economic development, the ‘Edward River Experience’ and health.
• Delivering community assets and services - this includes sub-categories of vibrant villages and towns, reliable water and sewerage and friendly and supportive customer service.
• Accountable leadership and responsive administration - this includes sub-categories of collaborative and engaged and financially sustainable.
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