Newstead will be the talk of the town on March 3
Small talk is the glue that holds small towns together, but over the past few months Newstead residents have been encouraged to talk at depth, as part of the community planning process, called 'Our Town, Our Say', run by a group of local volunteers.
Face-to-face chats, focus groups with farmers, carers, artists, small business, newcomers, and fireguard members, surveys, Facebook and blogging, postcards, general knowledge quizes and 'roaming blackboards' have been a few of the ways that Newsteadians have been encouraged to think about their town and the sort of future they would like to create.
Projects such as restoring the railway station to create an arts hub, linking both sides of the river via accessible walking and bike tracks, street tree renewal and improvements to Newstead's streetscapes have been just some of the hundreds of ideas elicited.
All this talking will reach a crescendo on March 3 at Newstead's Community Planning Day, when all the ideas and responses will be presented, discussed and the community will decide what will be included in Newstead's Community Plan.
The project is part of Mount Alexander Shire's community planning process underway across the shire. The difference in Newstead is that residents in the town decided to run the planning process themselves, with the idea that the locals could do a better job of making sure as many parts of the community were heard and had input into the process. Council agreed.
The planning group looks forward to a good turn-up at the community centre on March 3, from 11am to 3pm. Those in the community who haven't had the opportunity to be involved to date, can still have input into Newstead's plan. The day will involve presentations, music, displays, conversation, discussion and good food, catered for by the school community. The Newstead Quiz will be also drawn on the day.
www.newsteadplan.wordpress.com
www.facebook.com/NewsteadCommunityPlan
Janet Barker 0439 003 469
Small talk is the glue that holds small towns together, but over the past few months Newstead residents have been encouraged to talk at depth, as part of the community planning process, called 'Our Town, Our Say', run by a group of local volunteers.
Face-to-face chats, focus groups with farmers, carers, artists, small business, newcomers, and fireguard members, surveys, Facebook and blogging, postcards, general knowledge quizes and 'roaming blackboards' have been a few of the ways that Newsteadians have been encouraged to think about their town and the sort of future they would like to create.
Projects such as restoring the railway station to create an arts hub, linking both sides of the river via accessible walking and bike tracks, street tree renewal and improvements to Newstead's streetscapes have been just some of the hundreds of ideas elicited.
All this talking will reach a crescendo on March 3 at Newstead's Community Planning Day, when all the ideas and responses will be presented, discussed and the community will decide what will be included in Newstead's Community Plan.
The project is part of Mount Alexander Shire's community planning process underway across the shire. The difference in Newstead is that residents in the town decided to run the planning process themselves, with the idea that the locals could do a better job of making sure as many parts of the community were heard and had input into the process. Council agreed.
The planning group looks forward to a good turn-up at the community centre on March 3, from 11am to 3pm. Those in the community who haven't had the opportunity to be involved to date, can still have input into Newstead's plan. The day will involve presentations, music, displays, conversation, discussion and good food, catered for by the school community. The Newstead Quiz will be also drawn on the day.
www.newsteadplan.wordpress.com
www.facebook.com/NewsteadCommunityPlan
Janet Barker 0439 003 469
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