Five-year strategy to guide future focus for community development

Gladstone Regional Council will undertake a period of community engagement in order to create a five-year Community Development Strategy and Action Plan to guide future community development.

The Strategy will consider community needs now and into the future and will guide the operations of Council in relation to aspects of community development such as social priorities, programs, facilities, networks and partnerships.

Over the months of February and March, Council will conduct a comprehensive community engagement program to understand what the community development priorities are and identify the vision for community development in the region.

Gladstone Region Mayor Matt Burnett said Council is seeking input from residents, organisations and associations to help guide the development of the Community Development Strategy.

“We are after community input to assist in establishing Council’s approach to social priorities, community programs, social infrastructure, open space activation, networks and partnerships over the next five years,” Councillor Burnett said.

“Community engagement will be conducted in many forms including the use of Council’s online engagement platform Conversations, information and market stalls, community focus groups, a community reference group, postcard surveys and information displays.

“The engagement period will run until 31 March with plenty of opportunities for people to have their say.

“Opportunities include Pop-up Information Stalls at upcoming community events, Community Focus Group sessions, Community Reference Group meetings and ongoing Information Displays.”

The Community Focus Group sessions will be held at Mount Larcom, Agnes Water and the Boyne Valley in order to give people living outside Gladstone a chance to participate.

The Community Reference Group sessions will comprise of six two-hour meetings at locations including Gladstone, Miriam Vale, Mount Larcom and Boyne Island.

Cr Burnett said an Expression of Interest form must be completed by Friday 21 February for people to participate in the Community Reference Group sessions.

“Those sessions will help identify priorities and also assist in shaping the final document,” Cr Burnett said.

“With access to experienced staff, participants will work together to explore and create a vision for community development in our region.

“Online interaction is also possible through a web-based platform for those who want to participate but are unable to get to those sessions in person.”

Cr Burnett added that Information Displays can also be found at Council’s Customer Service Centres and all Gladstone Regional Libraries.

“People can visit those centres between now and 31 March to find out more about the Community Development Strategy, complete a survey or postcard to share their views,” he said.

“We want to see as many people as possible take part in this strategy as Council aims to foster and grow safe, healthy and inclusive communities.”

Visit Council’s Conversations website – https://conversations.gladstone.qld.gov.au – to learn more about the project and complete an online survey.

Community engagement opportunities include:

Pop-up Information Stalls

WHAT: Moonlight Movies
WHEN: Saturday, 22 February at 6.30pm-8.30pm
WHERE: Tondoon Botanic Gardens, 672 Glenlyon Road

WHAT: Thursday Arvie Barbie
WHEN: Thursday, 5 March at 3.30pm-6pm
WHERE: Gladstone PCYC, 53 Yarroon Street

WHAT: BAM Markets
WHEN: Saturday, 7 March at 2pm-7pm
WHERE: Millennium Esplanade, Tannum Sands

WHAT: Calliope Historical Village Markets
WHEN: Sunday, 8 March at 8am-midday
WHERE: Old Bruce Highway, River Ranch

WHERE: Miriam Vale Library, 34 Roe Street
WHEN: Wednesday, 11 March at 9am-midday

WHERE: Gladstone Library, 39 Goondoon Street
WHEN: Saturday, 14 March at midday-2pm

WHAT: Gladstone Rotary Charity Markets
WHEN: Sunday, 15 March at 7am-midday
WHERE: Tondoon Botanic Gardens

WHAT: 1770 Rotary Markets
WHEN: Sunday, 22 March at 8am-midday
WHERE: SES Grounds, Captain Cook Drive.

Community Focus Groups

WHAT: Mount Larcom Focus Group
WHEN: Tuesday, 25 February at 10am-midday
WHERE: Mount Larcom Public Hall, 47 Raglan Street

WHAT: Boyne Valley Focus Group
WHEN: Wednesday, 26 February at 10am-midday
WHERE: Builyan Hall, 11 Pine Street

WHAT: Agnes Water Focus Group
WHEN: Thursday, 27 February at 10am-midday
WHERE: Agnes Water Community Centre, 71 Springs Road.

Community Reference Groups

3 March, midday-2pm in Gladstone
18 March, midday-2pm in Miriam Vale
1 April, midday-2pm in Mount Larcom
15 April, midday-2pm in Boyne Island
29 April, midday-2pm in Gladstone
13 May, midday-2pm in Gladstone.

Information Displays (ongoing until 31 March)

Gladstone Office, 101 Goondoon Street
Calliope Office/Library, 5 Don Cameron Drive
Miriam Vale Office/Library, 41 Blomfield Street
Agnes Water Rural Transaction Centre/Library, 71 Springs Road
Mount Larcom Rural Transaction Centre/Library, 47 Raglan Street
Boyne Tannum Community Centre/Library, Cnr Wyndham and Hayes Avenues, Boyne Island
Gladstone City Library, 39 Goondoon Street
Gladstone Regional Art Gallery & Museum, Cnr of Goondoon and Bramston Streets.

Download PDF