Bellarine’s future in focus

A NEW collaboration, aiming to bring together Bellarine residents, business owners, organisations, services and all levels of government to guide the region’s future, will be launched this month.

Bellarine resident and former Geelong councillor Tom O’Connor said Plan the Bellarine was a consolidated, collaborative approach to manage present challenges and future opportunities for the region.

“The first step for Plan the Bellarine – which is focused on ensuring the highest level of community and stakeholder engagement in the Bellarine’s future – is a public forum this month at the Potato Shed,” Mr O’Connor said.

He said creating the Bellarine’s future – from marine and coastal to rural and urban – required strategic collaboration directly linked to policies and programs across all levels of government.

“Taking the ideas and vision of key stakeholders and the wider community, and aligning them with local and state government policy will greatly support the Bellarine’s future,” Mr O’Connor said.

“This month’s Plan the Bellarine forum will be directed by Brook Dixon, managing director of Delos Delta, a management consulting company working with governments and private partners across Australia and internationally.

“The forum, which is open to everyone, is aimed at community engagement, specifically preparing smart tech strategies and policies for cities, towns and regions designing and delivering large-scale smart city initiatives embedding smart city capacity and systems in multiple governments and private organisations.

“Stakeholders are the ultimate consumers, bearing the benefits and the cost, and engaging with them is critical to strategy, policy, delivery, governance and business.

“Leading professionals will make presentations, followed by an interactive Q-and-A style, with an opportunity to share the responsibilities and help plan and develop the Bellarine’s future in unison with our local government leaders.

“Taking the ideas and vision of key stakeholders and the wider community, and aligning them with local and state government policy will greatly support the Bellarine’s future.”

The Plan the Bellarine forum is on November 25, 5.30pm to 8.30pm, at the Potato Shed and online registration at https://tickets.geelongaustralia.com.au/event/plan-the-bellarine is essential.

Entry is via donation on the night and COVIDSafe conditions apply.