Social inclusion will be one of the key directives for the City of Greater Bendigo’s governance over the next four years.
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In its formative stages, the council’s 2017-2021 draft community plan focuses on fairness, engagement and sustainability.
Mayor Margaret O’Rourke announced the basic framework which will guide the city’s new-look administration at a community forum on Monday.
“The feedback i got throughout the campaign was the Bendigo-centric aspect of things,” Cr O’Rourke said.
“It’s about as a municipality we all go together, we try and lessen the disadvantage and do this together.”
About 800 residents have responded to the community-led plan thus far – their main concerns being population growth, facilities, integrated transport and to maintain the region’s ‘green belt’.
The City of Greater Bendigo was also trying to streamline its organisation to become more community-service focused, Cr O’Rourke said.
All councillors had collaborated to create the four-year community plan, which had the ultimate goal of making Bendigo one of the most liveable regional cities in the world, according to Cr O’Rourke.
“You’ve got to have an aspiration,” she said.
Strengthening an ever-growing economy was another pillar on which council would govern.
“Our region is growing by 1500-1700 people per year, which is fast growing in regional city terms,” Cr O’Rourke said.
She also estimated greater Bendigo’s population would have swelled to 200,000 residents by 2050.
Cr O’Rourke stressed the council’s four-year plan was not political, and the City of Greater Bendigo was soliticing ideas from all aspects of the community.
Monday night’s forum, which attracted 30 interest locals, was one of two sessions to be held this week.
The other will be held at the Ulumbarra Theatre on Thursday from 6.30-8.30pm.
Meanwhile, City of Greater Bendigo said it was considering a further staff reshuffle after the city’s five director positions were consolidated into four roles midway through last year.
A proposed organisation structure focusing on changes within the directorates will be released to staff for comment on Thursday, City of Greater Bendigo chief executive Craig Niemann said in a statement.