SUSTAINABLESUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIESCOMMUNITIES THETHE BAWBAW BAWBAW SHIRESHIRE COUNCILCOUNCIL SOLUTIONSOLUTION

AboutAbout BawBaw BawBaw

• Located in West , just over an hour from • 100 localities spread over 4,027 km² of rolling green hills, towns, mountains & top agricultural land • Population of over 40,000 people. is the largest town (~12,000 people) & Drouin is a close second (around 7,000 people) • Major employers - agribusiness(11%), health(11%), retail(10%), construction(10%) & manufacturing(9%) •2/3rd of Melbourne’s Water Supply comes from our mountainous regions Council Challenges

• Enlightening communities • Empowering communities • Resourcing communities • Open and honest communications • Communities owning & controlling process • Delivering sustainable council strategies Getting Over The Past

• Historical disconnection impact • Council amalgamation issues • Lack of consultation with communities • Changing budgetary demands and priorities • Perceived poor project delivery Reconnecting with the Community

• Engaging at a different level • Seeking broader participation • Identifying the challenges for communities • Setting realistic goals – ownership • ‘Ground-up approach’ • Communities driving council strategies Community Connect

COMMUNITIES

SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT ACTIVITIES

COMMUNITY COMMUNITY CONNECTING ASSETS ECONOMY

ARTS AND HEALTH & CULTURE WELLBEING LOCAL GOVERNMENT Community Engagement across Baw Baw Shire

Tanjil Bren

Noojee

Walhalla Rawson District Erica

Jindivick Tanjil Valley District

Rokeby/Crossover

Longwarry Drouin Shady Creek

Darnum

Yarragon

Seaview/Grand Ridge Thorpdale Poowong East Workshop 1 Longwarry Workshop 1 Neerim District Workshop 2 Poowong East Workshop 2 Workshop 3 Longwarry Reviewing & Agreeing Priorities Jindivick Developing Action Plans Community Projects

• Wide range of projects identified & delivered • Over $2M invested – State, Local & In-kind • Conservative figure Longwarry Town Beautification Project

BEFORE

AFTER Jindivick Walking Track Project BEFORE

AFTER Willow Grove Public Toilet Project BEFORE

AFTER Noojee Water Wheel Project BEFORE

AFTER Willow Grove Walking Track Project BEFORE

AFTER Sustainable Community Development • Identified diversity across communities • Challenge to ensure sustainability • Community needs vs council obligations • Range of scenarios • Community expectations • Impact of global challenges Introduction to Rawson

Rawson Introduction to Rawson

• Built as part of Thomson Dam project • Housing more than 1000 workers and families • Local economy based on Thomson Dam and local timber industry • Rawson crater lake - recreational feature Rawson Today

• Township no longer sustainable • Thomson dam unable to fulfil potential • Crater lake reliant on rainfall • Township struggling to survive • Current population 279 (Census 2006) Rawson Community Engagement

• Crater lake identified as a priority project • To be emptied, cleaned and refilled • Insufficient rainfall to sustain the lake • Shortage of water • Limited funds Rawson Crater Lake 2002 Rawson Crater Lake March 2009 Rawson Crater Lake Oct 2009 Rawson Crater Lake Project

• Funding from Federal/State and Local Govt • Works currently in progress • Creation of lake/wetlands • Upgrade of surrounds • Community contributions Sustainability

• Sustainability is all about flexibility • It’s all about change! • Catalyst for sustainable economic growth • Putting in place realistic ideals • Managing delivery expectations • Global challenges – significant impact ThankThank YouYou