Strategic Community Plan 2020 – 2030 Endorsed: 8 December 2020
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Strategic Community Plan 2020 – 2030 Endorsed: 8 December 2020 “Inclusive community and lifestyle, balancing growth and sustainability” Table of Contents Acknowledgement of Country ........................................................................ 3 Introduction to the Strategic Community Plan ................................................ 4 Message from the Mayor ................................................................................ 5 Message from the Chief Executive Officer ........................................................ 6 Ward Map ..................................................................................................... 8 Mayor and Councillors .................................................................................... 9 The Integrated Planning and Reporting Framework ....................................... 10 Our Informing Strategies .............................................................................. 11 Resourcing the Plan ..................................................................................... 11 Community Involvement .............................................................................. 15 Community Priorities ................................................................................... 16 How our Strategic Community Plan is used ................................................... 17 Our Vision ................................................................................................... 18 Our Values .................................................................................................. 18 2020 – 2030 Strategic Community Plan at a glance ......................................... 19 Strategic Priority 1: Social ............................................................................ 20 Strategic Priority 2: Economic ...................................................................... 21 Strategic Priority 3: Built Environment .......................................................... 22 Strategic Priority 4: Natural Environment ..................................................... 23 Strategic Priority 5: Leadership and Governance ............................................ 24 Strategic Risk Management ......................................................................... 25 Town of East Fremantle Strategic Community Plan 2020-2030 2 Acknowledgement of Country In preparation of this document, the Town of East Fremantle acknowledges the Whadjuk Nyungar people, who are the traditional custodians of the land in the region and pay respect to their elders past, present and emerging. The Town also acknowledges other Aboriginal language groups in the area. Town of East Fremantle Strategic Community Plan 2020-2030 3 Introduction to the Strategic Community Plan Welcome to the Town of East Fremantle’s Strategic Community Plan (the Plan). The Plan is a long-term (10 Years) planning document that sets out the community’s vision, aspirations for the future, and the key strategies we will need to focus on to achieve our aspirations. Required under legislation, the Plan ensures we provide good governance and plan well for the future of the Town. The Plan is part of our fulfilment of the Integrated Planning and Reporting (IPR) Framework. All local governments in Western Australia are required to implement IPR, which enables robust decision-making. The Plan will be used to: • Guide Council decision-making and priority setting; • Engage local residents and ratepayers, local businesses, community groups, and education providers that contribute to the future of our community; • Inform decision-making with respect to other partners and agencies, including the State Government, other local governments, WALGA, and the private sector; • Provide a clear avenue to pursue funding and grant opportunities by demonstrating how projects align with the aspirations of our Council, and within the strategic direction outlined in this Plan; • Inform future partners of our key priorities, and the ways in which we seek to grow and develop; • Provide a framework for monitoring progress against the community’s vision and aspirations. When setting the direction for the Town, Council is mindful of the financial, asset and workforce constraints that we work within, and only plans for what we believe we can achieve. Town of East Fremantle Strategic Community Plan 2020-2030 4 Message from the Mayor It is my pleasure to present the Town of East Fremantle Strategic Community Plan 2020-2030. This revised plan is a further refinement of the Town’s future vision first drafted in 2013 and revisited in 2017. Refocusing our vision in 2020 was timely, given the enormous challenges faced by our community during the pandemic. It has reminded us of what is really important – our homes, our families and friends, our Town. More than ever we need to be focussed on the health, safety and wellbeing of our community. Our new Vision - “Inclusive community and lifestyle, balancing growth and sustainability”, reflects the new emphasis on embracing the diversity in our community , including recognition of our Town’s Aboriginal history and its contemporary Whadjuk community, and the priority given by our community to addressing challenges posed by climate change and its impacts on our natural environment. To deliver this Vision, this Plan delivers on key initiatives guided by these key principles: – A socially connected, inclusive and safe community; – Sustainable, locally focused and easy to do business with; – Accessible, well planned built landscapes in balance with the Town’s unique heritage and open spaces; – Maintaining and enhancing our River foreshore and other green, open spaces with a focus on environmental sustainability and community amenity; and – A proactive, approachable Council which values community consultation, transparency and accountability. This Plan outlines the Town’s broad goals and sets priorities in the areas of Social, Economic, Built and Natural Environment and Governance and Leadership. It reflects our passion for protecting our proud heritage; our commitment to providing a safe and inclusive society for all ages and interests; the increasing importance in making passive and active recreation accessible and available to all; and our strengthened commitment to community engagement. I thank the community members of all ages and our business community who contributed to the development of this plan, and commend my fellow elected members for their contribution, support and commitment to the Town of East Fremantle. Together we have created a future plan to guide this and future Councils to achieving the very best outcomes for our community. Mayor Jim O’Neill Town of East Fremantle Strategic Community Plan 2020-2030 5 Message from the Chief Executive Officer The Strategic Community Plan (the Plan) sets the path ahead and the future priorities for East Fremantle. It is a living document that guides all of the Town’s operations, policies, plans and activities on a daily basis. To keep it fresh, current and reflective of local needs, we review this Plan every two years. The Plan is future-focussed and aspirational. By aiming on where we want our Town to be by 2030, it helps us to chart a path towards realising that Vision in incremental and manageable steps that we can implement year on year. This Plan has been created and revised with input from the community we serve, and it helps us to design the services, plans and strategies we need to deliver our Vision. These initiatives come to life through implementation and are actioned through targeted and budgeted measures including our long-term financial plan, Corporate Business Plan and annual budgets. This new Vision comes as our Town has survived a very challenging period, and our challenge is to apply the lessons learned so that we can continue to strengthen our community’s capacity and resilience, working together to make our Town the envy of all. Ultimately, it comes down to relationships. The bonds shared between neighbours, the support for local business and community groups, and the rapport and trust we have built with our residents and with other partners and service providers and investors who are all working together to make this Town the vibrant, progressive and exciting place it is, and will become. There are many new projects we are working on now that will ensure that East Fremantle retains its historic character and enviable lifestyle, while adapting to the very latest technology and new options for healthy and sustainable living, sports and leisure, retail, hospitality and more. Our focus on innovation guided us through the pandemic in good stead, and we will continue to undertake research about changes and trends that may affect the Town. We have reaffirmed our commitment to communicating the progress of our Plan through the Town’s website, social media, e-newsletters and other printed material. I look forward to working with the elected officials, staff and with you – our community – to bring to life the Vision in this Plan so that East Fremantle remains an “Inclusive community and lifestyle, balancing growth and sustainability”. Gary Tuffin Chief Executive Officer Town of East Fremantle Strategic Community Plan 2020-2030 6 Our Community The Town of East Fremantle was created in 1897, when it separated from the Fremantle Municipal Council. We are an area of 3.2 square kilometres bounded to the north and west by the Swan River (see map). The Town has a resident population of 7860 (ABS