‘It becomes the township’s plan’: democratic approach shapes priorities

A TOWN’S community plan was launched at the weekend, with one item already ticked off the list.

The Napoleons Community Plan 2025–2029 was unveiled by the Napoleons Community Co-ordinators Planning Group on Saturday 20 June at Napoleons Hall, with Ballarat MP Catherine King and Golden Plains Shire mayor Cr Owen Sharkey in attendance.

Both politicians addressed the crowd, praising the community-led model.

The launch also celebrated a $10,000 seed funding grant from the Golden Plains Shire Council, empowering residents to control local priorities.

The public vote chose a list of high-priority projects.

They include a dedicated turnout lane at the Scotchman’s Lead intersection and a new safety fence around the playground at the Napoleons Recreation Reserve.

The list also included an accessible new drinking fountain tap at the reserve, and solar lighting upgrades for the existing township sign, which was the first project completed under the new plan.

“It’s about having a democratic approach to what everyone in the town thinks is important,” Napoleons Community Co-ordinators Planning Group’s Geraldine Frantz said.

“We originally put out surveys to bring back some data about what people think we should have in the town.”

The voting determined the plan’s priorities.

“And so, firstly, safety was the number one and that meant not just the turnout lane but safety around the playground, that sort of thing,” Frantz said.

“But there was lots in it and there’s lots, you know, that can be looked at in a later time.”

Frantz said residents were excited about the plan because they could present what they thought the town needed.

“It becomes the township’s plan,” she said.

“We live there, we work there, we play there, so we know what’s best for us.”

She said the planning group would now be looking for government partnerships to complete their priorities.