Community Plan 2030
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Southern Downs COMMUNITY PLAN 2030 Contents 2 11 About the Plan Reaching the Vision 12 3 The Southern Downs Plan Hierarchy Sense of Community 14 4 The Healthy and Active Southern Downs Developing the Plan 15 6 The Southern Downs Learning Community Setting the Scene for 2030 18 The Economically Strong, Sustainable 7 and Diverse Southern Downs What we Value 20 8 Destination Southern Downs The Challenges and Opportunities 22 for the Future The Environmentally Sustainable Southern Downs 10 24 Visions The Well-connected Southern Downs 26 The Well-governed Southern Downs 28 Tracking Progress Southern Downs 2030 Community Plan 1 About the Plan A long-term community plan is a visionary The Southern Downs 2030 Community Plan document that addresses local and regional will provide guidance on community priorities matters relating to social well-being, economic for a 20-year horizon. This document will be a development, environmental management valuable tool informing the future planning of and governance. A community plan is used to Southern Downs Regional Council, community provide direction to all other local government organisations, major industry, state and federal planning processes such as corporate planning, government and other strategic partners. The asset management and operational plans. Southern Downs 2030 Community Plan sets out what is important to the region. The Southern Downs 2030 Community Plan will become the region’s “umbrella plan,” The Local Government Act 2009 requires councils to providing high-level strategic direction for facilitate the development of a community plan. social, environmental, cultural, economic and Southern Downs Regional Council acknowledges governance aspects of community life. The the diversity of communities that make up the diagram on the next page shows how the region. By developing the Southern Downs Southern Downs 2030 Community Plan fits within 2030 Community Plan, these communities have the hierarchy of other council planning processes. contributed to a unified regional vision for the The diagram also shows the relationship between Southern Downs, while maintaining the unique the Southern Downs 2030 Community Plan and identity of individual townships so treasured by significant planning processes that are external residents and visitors alike. to Southern Downs Regional Council, such as the future Regional Plan. “I love the relaxed and friendly atmosphere of the beautiful region - it’s the reason I came back.” Southern Downs Resident 2011 Southern Downs 2 2030 Community Plan Plan Hierarchy Queensland Queensland Regionalisation Infrastructure Plan Strategy (2011) (2011) Regional Plan (when developed) State Government Plans Southern Downs 2030 Community Plan In time In time Long-term Financial Plan Asset Management Plan (10 years) (10 years) Corporate Plan Planning Scheme (5 years) (10 years) Council Planning Processes Strategic Plans Operational Plan and Budget Capital Works Program (2-5 years) (1 year) (1 year) Action Action Action Action Action Plans Plans Plans Plans Plans Southern Downs 2030 Community Plan 3 Developing the Plan This community planning process is not the first in the development of the visions and directions experience of Southern Downs Regional Council contained within this plan. This approach in facilitating long-term planning of this nature. has ensured that the community has a good Work undertaken as part of the Vision 2040, understanding of the plan as well as ownership of Stanthorpe 2020 Plan and Warwick Futures the ideas within it. Plan have provided valuable foundations for In line with Southern Downs Regional Council’s discussions with the community about the long- Community Engagement Policy, this community term vision they have for the region. planning process was guided by a number of Vision 2040 was developed as part of Southern principles including: Downs Regional Council’s last corporate planning • Meaningful community engagement with the cycle (2009-2014) with the Stanthorpe 2020 Plan Southern Downs communities and Warwick Futures Plan developed between • Clearly communicating the purpose of the 2006-2009. Having reviewed these plans, many engagement directions have been achieved and in some cases, • Encouraging maximum participation community goals and priorities have changed. Plans of this nature require ongoing review to • Reporting on engagement activities ensure relevance and validity for the community. • Being transparent in our processes and honest in our communication. It is important to Southern Downs Regional Council that the community was actively involved “I would like to congratulate the team in providing me with this opportunity to provide input to linking the community and Council in producing a vision for our beautiful region.” Southern Downs Resident 2011 Southern Downs 4 2030 Community Plan The Southern Downs 2030 Community Plan was process. Southern Downs Regional Council developed over a number of months involving ran a creative arts competition that asked a wide representation of community members, entrants to capture what is “Simply Irresistible” elected members and council staff. Approximately about the Southern Downs’ places and people. 1000 people contributed their ideas through Some of the images and photographs you community postcards, workshops, submissions see throughout this document were entries and conversations with staff attending public in the creative arts competition. In addition to events and places. the creative arts competition, the Community Advisory Group was formed to assist with the Four phases of engagement guided the approach review of the draft document. Membership of the to developing the plan. These phases included: group comprised of nine community members • Community Plan Launch representing a range of townships, ages, interests • Community Visioning and life experience. The Community Advisory • Goals & Directions Group’s role was to provide advice to Southern Downs Regional Council on the design, review • Draft Distribution and refinement of the Southern Downs 2030 At each phase, community input directly Community Plan document. influenced the outcomes and preparation for the We thank all those who contributed so generously next phase. to the development of the Southern Downs 2030 A number of parallel activities took place to Community Plan. increase awareness of and participation in the Southern Downs 2030 Community Plan Southern Downs 2030 Community Plan 5 Setting the Scene for 2030 The current population of the Southern Considering the whole of Queensland context, Downs region is estimated to be 36,415. Based the Southern Downs has rated outside of the on projections released in the Queensland top 10 largest growing local government areas Government Population Projections, Local and the top 10 fastest growing local government Government Areas 2011 edition, the population areas. This means that the Southern Downs is not in 2031 is expected to grow to between 43,463 anticipated to experience the volume or pace and 51,547. This represents an average annual of population growth when compared to some growth rate of 1.3%. neighbouring regional council areas in South-East Queensland. The population of the region is ageing, with the median age projected to increase by 7 years from Following the release of the 2011 census data in a median age of 40 years in 2006 to a median age mid-2012 further projections will be able to be of 47 years in 2031. People aged over 65 years will calculated. represent 28% of the Southern Downs community in 2031 compared to 20% for the whole of Queensland. “Supplying infrastructure to an ever-increasing population without losing the region’s natural attraction will be a challenge in the future.” Southern Downs Resident 2011 Photo courtesy Peter Hinchley Southern Downs 6 2030 Community Plan “I love that the Southern Downs is small enough to care, but big enough for opportunity.” Southern Downs Resident 2011 What we Value To begin the Southern Downs 2030 Community Plan process, it was important to understand why people call the Southern Downs home and what is valued most about the region. When asked, “What do you love about the Southern Downs region?” the community responded overwhelmingly, that it was the climate, clean air, natural environment and the four distinct seasons that they enjoyed most. Other highly rated responses were the lifestyle, the friendliness of the people and a sense of safety and community that is fostered by being in a smaller regional centre or township. Community responses also identified a number of aspects that make the Southern Downs unique What we love about the Southern in this part of Queensland. These included the Downs region: fresh food and wine produced by the region’s • Climate, clean air, natural environment agricultural industry, the history and heritage • Lifestyle of the area and the diverse range of events and • Friendliness of people, safety and sense festivals that cater for locals and tourists alike. of community • Fresh food and wine Much emphasis was also placed on the value of the region’s parks and gardens, open space • History and heritage and easy access to natural attractions such as • Events and festivals national parks and rivers. People also felt that the • Parks, gardens, open space and national range and standard of sporting facilities provided parks throughout the region is something the Southern • Sporting facilities Downs can celebrate. Southern Downs 2030 Community Plan 7 The Challenges and Opportunities for