Camden Haven Community in collaboration with Camden Haven [DRAFT] COMMUNITY PLAN November 2020 1. FOREWORD The crab is the Birpai totem for the Camden 1. FOREWORD ............................................................2 Haven area. Credit: Marion Hampton. ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF COUNTRY 2. COMMUNITY PLANNING FOR THE CAMDEN HAVEN .......6 The Camden Haven Community-Council Action Team acknowledges 3. COMMUNITY PLANNING PROCESS .............................8 the Birpai people as the traditional custodians of the lands within its local boundaries. We acknowledge Elders both past and 4. INTRODUCING THE CAMDEN HAVEN ......................... 10 present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. 5. HISTORY .............................................................. 14 We also acknowledge that the area is represented by the Bunyah 6. COMMUNITY PROFILE ............................................ 16 and Purfleet/Taree Local Aboriginal Land Councils. BOUNDARIES ...................................................... 18 7. OUR COMMUNITY .................................................. 20 FROM THE MAYOR, PETA PINSON ZONING ............................................................. 22 I am delighted to present the Camden Haven Community 8. FUTURE FOCUS ..................................................... 24 Plan, which sets out the vision, goals and priorities for 9. CONNECTING OUR COMMUNITY ............................... 26 improving the quality of life for the residents of Camden Haven area for the next five to ten years. This Community SHARED PATHWAYS ............................................. 28 Plan reflects the community’s aspirations to create a vibrant and positive community which offers opportunities 10. OUR OBJECTIVES AND GOALS ............................... 30 for everyone to prosper. The Camden Haven area is widely known for its stunning natural environment and beautiful 11. COMMUNITY IDEAS AND DESIRED OUTCOMES ......... 32 coastal character that encourages a healthy and active lifestyle for both residents and visitors. The community 12. THE FUTURE OF THE CAMDEN HAVEN ..................... 36 celebrates its local stories and values its unique identity that is so important to the character and aesthetic of the APPENDIX A: THE LAURIETON FLAG REPRESENTING THE area and inspires the community to be the best it can be. CAMDEN HAVEN ....................................................... 37 APPENDIX B: COUNCIL’S STRATEGIES, POLICIES AND PROJECTS ................................................................ 38 FROM THE CAMDEN HAVEN COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE COMMUNITY-COUNCIL ACTION TEAM The Camden Haven Community-Council Action Team appreciates the Laurieton Flag representing the Camden Haven - opportunity to represent our local area through this new process developed by Carmel Dowse of consultation, to highlight and inform the Council of our vision/ Refer Appendix A for further details. concerns for the future of the Camden Haven. This Community Plan provides strategic direction for Council and the community to deliver outcomes, which will preserve our environment and heritage; enhance connectivity (via our shared pathway network and rich social connections) and ensure a sustainable economy that will serve our community into the future. Cover page images: Top right: Bob Hope making a phone call in 1944 at Laurieton Post Office after his emergency landing in the Camden Haven inlet. Middle right - Joseph Laurie (1832-1904) - appointed first Postmaster in 1875 and after whom Laurieton is named. CONTENTS 2 PORT MACQUARIE-HASTINGS COUNCIL 3 CAMDEN HAVEN COMMUNITY PLAN OUR VISION TO MAINTAIN THE CHARM AND BEAUTY OF THE CAMDEN HAVEN IN AN ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE MANNER, WHILST GROWING A VIBRANT, EQUITABLE, CONNECTED COMMUNITY AND A GROWING ECONOMY. 4 PORT MACQUARIE-HASTINGS COUNCIL 5 CAMDEN HAVEN COMMUNITY PLAN 2. COMMUNITY PLANNING FOR THE CAMDEN HAVEN The Camden Haven CCAT is made up of local people representing various The Port Macquarie-Hastings Local Government Area (LGA) is home to groups and ages from our community a number of vibrant towns, villages and communities, each with its own unique history, character, urban amenity and vision for their future. who have been meeting regularly to develop the Community Plan. Port Macquarie-Hastings Council (PMHC) is working with communities across the LGA to develop Community Plans. These plans are a We would like to extend our thanks to the community-led blueprint which reflect the aspirations, strengths and members of the Community-Council Action what is special or unique about a community; the character, lifestyle, Team: Anna Battersby, April Saunders, Blair social image, economy and environment. The Plans also outline a ‘vision’ that each community has for its future and ‘actions’ that the Maxwell, Cicely Snow, Greg Armstrong, Greg community would like to see delivered to help achieve this vision. Mitchell, Hayley Proudfoot, Mike Dodkin, Neil Hosick, Pam Vine, Penny Small, Peter Nash, The Community Plan is an important document that will inform and Peter West, Phillip Bowman, Janet Cohen, guide PMHC, NSW Government and other stakeholders in: Shane Globits and Stuart Bate as well a) understanding the issues and future priorities for the Camden as Council staff Sandra Wallace Haven; and Felicity Staedter b) supporting the vision and objectives determined by our community; c) having a deeper understanding of our community values; d) creating clear opportunities for working together effectively; e) catering for population demographics, especially building a future for our youth. At the heart of Community Planning is a dynamic, participatory and consultative process that allows communities to have their voice heard and enables them to identify priorities and actions to achieve their vision - the responsibility of which is to be shared between the community and Council. Community-Council Action Teams (CCATs) are being established in each community to help develop the Community Plan and then to work together with Council to prioritise, scope and deliver the identified actions. Council is looking to establish up to 18 such CCATS throughout the LGA. The CCAT is a genuine partnership between the Community and Council. The responsibility for the delivery of the actions detailed in this Community Plan are project dependent. Implementation will rest either with the Council or jointly with the Council and the Community. Consultation between the Council and the CCATs on local issues is imperative for the future operation and existence of the CCAT partnership with Council. 6 PORT MACQUARIE-HASTINGS COUNCIL 7 CAMDEN HAVEN COMMUNITY PLAN 3. COMMUNITY PLANNING PROCESS Community-Council Action Team and Development of Draft Postcard Survey Community Plan and Action Plan In September 2018, Council delivered A Community-Council Action Team (CCAT) was then over 3,500 survey postcards to all formed. Community members were asked to apply in Community Plan and Action Camden Haven residents to solicit the writing to be part of this volunteer team for a 2-year communities’ feedback on what they term. The Camden Haven CCAT is made up of local Plan Endorsement by love about their community and what people representing various groups and ages from Council they would like to see in the future for our community. They have been meeting regularly the Camden Haven. Over 110 survey to use the information from the THINK TANKS and This is the final step in making your submissions were received. This feedback further consultations to create this Community Plan Community Plan official by having it reported formed the basis for the Think Tanks. for the Camden Haven. though to Council. Community Think Tank Community Consultation Delivery of the Action Two THINK TANK forums were held by Council staff in This was the opportunity for the broader Plan October 2018 at the Laurieton School of Arts. These community to provide feedback on this The Community Council Action forums were open to all Camden Haven residents Community Plan with the accompanied Action Team will continue to work on the and were used to discuss and record, then prioritise Plan developed by the Community-Council delivery on the actions identified and values, issues and opportunities for planning the Action Team. The Camden Haven Community prioritised by the community. future of this area. Attendance at these forums was Plan was on public exhibition for a period of 6 mixed with over 35 members of the public taking weeks in late 2019. part. 8 PORT MACQUARIE-HASTINGS COUNCIL 9 CAMDEN HAVEN COMMUNITY PLAN 4. INTRODUCING THE CAMDEN HAVEN The Camden Haven, with its coastal and semi-rural character, is a vibrant and connected community that celebrates local stories and values its natural environment and tranquil lifestyle. The area is attractive and unique due to a high proportion of protected land - bounded in all four points of the compass by natural environment retained in national parks and various reserves. The area’s natural attributes include expansive native forests, heathlands and waterways, which are overshadowed by the prominent Dooragan (North Brother) Mountain, one of the more dramatic landform features on the North Coast of NSW. It is this spectacular natural environment that draws many people to live here and will continue to provide a major draw card for tourism to the Port Macquarie-Hastings Local Government Area (LGA). Today the Camden Haven CCAT area comprises six villages, namely North