Help plan the city’s future

FIFTY residents are being sought to help inform the second stage of the Imagine Greater Bendigo planning project set to get underway in May.

Fifteen-thousand households in the City of Greater Bendigo have been mailed information about the consultation process at random, which encourages them to volunteer for the municipal strategic planning process if they are over 18 years of age.

Those from a household that didn’t receive an invitation cannot participate this round, but will have another chance to give ideas.

City of Greater Bendigo mayor Cr Jennifer Alden hopes people will put their hand up.

“This is a great opportunity for residents to influence future council decision-making, and help us prioritise how we will deliver services, projects and initiatives that broadly benefit everyone in our community,” she said.

“If a brightly coloured envelope has arrived in your mailbox with Imagine Greater Bendigo written on the front, please consider the request to participate on the panel and what you have to offer. We want to ensure a range of perspectives and experiences are included.

“The City has not been involved in the random selection process, this has been managed externally by a company called Deliberately Engaging. The company will also select the final panel members, ensuring that they represent the diversity of our community.”

Stage one’s community survey is open until this Sunday, 28 February. Head to letstalkgreaterbendigo.com.au/imagine.

The stage two panel will review the initial consultation data, and feedback from the survey to construct a community vision for the coming years. The resulting document will summarise residents’ goals for Greater Bendigo’s future, it’s growth and development.

As part of its work the panel will identify priority issues, and how local government, community groups and organisations, and the general public can tackle them.

Feedback will also inform the Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan, Financial Plan and Asset Plan.