DRAFT TEN YEAR Community PLAN Respecting people, place and progress Cook Shire Council | Ten Year Community Plan 1 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 4 A PAUSE FOR REFLECTION – SOME OF COUNCIL’S ACHIEVEMENTS THE PURPOSE OF THE OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS 21 TEN YEAR COMMUNITY PLAN 5 Roads 21 COUNCIL’S STRATEGIC PLANNING FRAMEWORK 5 Shortage of Jobs 21 COMMUNITY PLAN THEMES 6 Small Business Development 21 Places for People 7 Youth Issues 21 Wellbeing and Empowerment 7 Need for a Diverse Economy 22 Accessibility and Connectivity 8 Maintain Historical Aspects 22 Economic Development 8 Communications Infrastructure 22 Environmental Responsibility 11 Health Issues 22 Organisational capability 11 Liveability of Townships 22 HOW PROGRESS WILL BE Limited Aged Care 22 REPORTED AND EVALUATED 12 OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES PARTNERSHIPS 12 FOR COOK SHIRE COUNCIL 23 WHO WE ARE: Ageing Population 23 UNDERSTANDING COOK SHIRE 14 Global Political Volatility 23 Our People 15 Developing Trade Markets 23 Index of Relative Socio-economic Climate change 23 Disadvantage 15 Community and Customer Australian Early Development Census Expectations and New Technology 23 – Community Profile 2018 16 Land Tenure and Use 23 Physical Health and Wellbeing Social Competence Financial Sustainability 23 Emotional Maturity COMMUNITY CONSULTATION FEEDBACK 24 Language and Cognitive Skills Location of Respondents 24 (School-based) Age of Respondents 24 Communications Skills and General Knowledge Sex of Respondents 24 Proportion of Children Who Are Percent of Respondents who Agree Developmentally Vulnerable with the Statement that the ECONOMY 19 Top Ten Priorities in 2011 – 2021 ENVIRONMENT AND PLACE 20 are Still Relevant 24 Ranking of those Priorities for the Next Ten Years – 2021 - 2031 25 Representative Sample Comments 25 FINAL THOUGHTS 26 2 Cook Shire Council | Ten Year Community Plan Cook Shire Council | Ten Year Community Plan 3 Introduction The purpose of the Ten Year The Cook Shire Council Ten Year Community Plan (the Community Plan) outlines the communities Community Plan aspirations, priorities and vision for the future of the Shire and sets out the key strategies required to achieve these aspirations. A Community Plan is a long term, overarching strategy and planning document that outlines the We live in a very special region of Queensland, one that The process helped us to understand what matters most offers a unique lifestyle underpinned by a blend of beautiful to our various communities and will guide the way we communities’ aspirations and priorities for the future and sets out the key strategies required to achieve natural areas, an ethos of two cultures, one people and the collectively plan for the future and deliver services. these. opportunity to experience lived history. We hope that this Plan will be seen as an inspiring blueprint The intent of the Plan is to: The Community Plan captures the aspirations of the which captures the communities’ vision and outlines the many individual communities in the region for the social, Shire’s approach to delivering on this vision. This is not • Present the results of the engagement with the various environmental and economic future of the whole Shire. A key something we can achieve in isolation. communities to articulate their aspirations and priorities; challenge is to ensure that any local development and growth Shared decision making and effective working partnerships • With a clear understanding of aspirations and priorities, translate complements the region’s distinctive character and enhances with government agencies, non-government organisations, these into service, asset and land use planning requirements; and the already strong sense of place. Tough decisions will need business and our communities will be critical to the Plan’s to made to choose between competing priorities, manage • Guide our priority setting within the Corporate Plan. success. limited resources and maintaining a focus on the ‘big picture’. To achieve these complex tasks, the Shire must have a clear The feedback has been collated and analysed and refined direction. This is why the Community Plan is so important. into key themes, which encapsulate the communities’ As an overarching community planning document, it guides aspirations. Given the vastness of the Shire, Council is everything we do as a Shire, ensuring every step we take is a committed to using a place-based approach to delivering step towards achieving the communities’ vision for the future. on the outcomes to ensure that all communities in the Shire Council’s Strategic Planning benefit from Council’s efforts to deliver on the communities’ In developing this Plan, Council placed great value on the aspirations. importance of engaging as widely as possible with the Shire’s many communities. A variety of engagement activities and In developing the Plan, Council has purposefully focused Framework techniques were used including a road trip across the Cape on distilling the communities’ feedback into an accessible, to meet with stakeholders face-to-face, community meetings, realistic and achievable plan – one that will guide our work The Community Plan is part of a strategic governance framework which guides the operations of local and that of our partners over the next ten years. surveys – both handwritten and on-line – and attendance at governments in Queensland. local markets by Councillors and staff. Although there is no longer a statutory requirement to Each year, Council prepares a One-Year Operational develop a Community Plan, it is considered best practice to Plan which sets out the significant initiatives that Council develop such a Plan to guide the operations of a Council over will undertake during that year to progress towards the the long term. achievement of its Corporate Plan strategies. The Community Plan is one of a suite of planning documents Council further produces an Annual Budget, a Long Term which guide the activities and services provided by Council. Financial Plan and Asset Management Plan to guide and fund its on-going operations. The Community Plan informs the development of Council’s Corporate Plan, which is a high level document that sets out the strategic direction for the region for a 5-Year period and guides decision-making and policy development. 4 Cook Shire Council | Ten Year Community Plan Cook Shire Council | Ten Year Community Plan 5 COMMUNITY PLAN THEMES 1 Detailed feedback from the Community Plan consultation Places for People process was carefully analysed and six key themes emerged Outcome: Creation of relaxed, welcoming and liveable places and spaces for all from the results of the analysis: • Inviting, functional and attractive design • Increase native planting and urban canopy in outcomes public realm developments that are the public realm including tree planting in road appropriate for place and are enjoyed by all reserves, verge gardens and strategic greening THEME of the Shire’s assets 1 Places for People • Thriving and sustainable cultural, tourism and heritage activities and events that encourage • Our town centres and gathering spaces are locals and visitors to come back safe, easy to use and attractive places where 2 Wellbeing and Empowerment • A growing residential population with access pedestrians have priority to diverse, affordable and accessible lifestyle • Encourage innovation in business, social housing options enterprise and imaginative uses of spaces 3 Accessibility and Connectivity • Cook Shire celebrates its history and heritage • Take a place-based approach to development through active renewal and strengthening the in our town centres and gathering places to sense of place, history and heritage increase activation, improve wayfinding and 4 Economic Development • Facilitate the development of neighbourhood create destinations for all members of the hubs in townships across the Shire that offer a community diverse, viable and attractive mix of uses • Advocate with the State and Federal 5 Environmental Responsibility • Improve the amenity value and sustainable uses Governments for a resolution of the land tenure of our streetscapes and public open spaces constraints stifling growth on the Cape York Peninsula. 6 Organisational Capability Community members can help by… • Using our existing facilities The Community Plan is structured around these key • Looking after our community infrastructure and reporting maintenance requirements to the Shire themes and together they provide the foundation for what residents effectively told us will make for healthy and happy communities across the Shire. For each of the themes, an overarching Outcome 2 Statement or aspirational statement has been developed, Wellbeing and Empowerment together with a set of Strategic Objectives and ways in Outcome: Development of a resilient, healthy and compassionate Shire, united in community pride which residents can help to achieve these aspirations. • Encourage healthy and active lifestyles, with a • Provide community, sport, recreational, and focus on helping others cultural facilities and infrastructure to meet identified needs across the Shire THEME • Provide accessible community services to ensure we are an inclusive, accessible and • Actively advocate and seek regional equitable Shire for all collaboration focused on growing the wellbeing • Facilitate and create opportunities for social, and self-sufficiency of the community to better cultural and physical activity in the Shire meet social, environmental and economic needs • Implement the Arts and Culture