Future planned for eastern localities

A NEW community plan is in the works for Maude, She Oaks and Steiglitz areas, and locals are being invited to have their say.

As part of the development process on open meeting is set for Sunday, 19 March where responses from a community survey will be discussed as well other ideas from residents.

Community plans are part of a process aimed at allowing locals to have a say in their region and form connections with Golden Plains Shire.

Event coordinator Catherine Schurmann has worked on previous plans said the initiative can be successful.

“We want more ideas from the community to help us say what the residents want,” she said.

“The council have been very supportive by having an outside consultant come in and help guide us through the process and help us secure grant funding.

“We’re hoping to get ideas from the community through the meeting, but one of the things from past plans is a new Maude community hall which we have funding pledged for from Catherine King.”

Areas for improvement already suggested include safer walking tracks, new historical signage, better phone and internet reception and moving an old schoolhouse back into Steiglitz township.

The previous community plan ran from 2017 until 2020.

Some of the achievements resulting from that document included new road signage, new cricket nets at Maude and restoration of a First World War honour board.

In 2020, a review of the program was undertaken by the Shire where recommendations were formed.

They included the adoption of a more flexible approach, having greater resourcing and support from the Golden Plains Shire and making the community more capable through learning and confidence building.

Ms Schurmann urges residents to get involved.

“The plan helps the community have their say in what they want rather than being dictated to by the council,” she said.

“We need your ideas so we can do things we want for the community.”

The meeting will be held at the Maude Community Hall at 2pm on Sunday, 19 March.