Pools are cool says Golden Plains community

THE early results from the Shire’s Sport and Active Recreation Strategy community feedback process are in and people want to make a splash, literally.

When it comes to new facilities pools have come back as one of the main thing community members want to see, followed by off-leash dog parks.

Also on people’s radar were good uses of existing community spaces as well as the cost of participation in, and communication of, regional sport and recreation opportunities.

Golden Plains Shire mayor Cr Owen Sharkey said the community consultation process, which ran during February, had been useful.

“Sport and recreation is highly valued by our communities and going forward that feedback will inform better decisions,” he said.

“Helpfully through this process it’s a two-way street where we as a council get an appreciation of what people want, but all some of that feedback has been hugely constructive and really good, particularly in the smaller communities that know what their limitations are.”

With the final touches of the municipalities’ Sport and Active Recreation Strategy 2020-2030 being applied, it’s expected the document will be presented to council soon.

Because the plan is a long-term document, Cr Sharkey said that while the Shire may not be able to deliver on all the desired outcomes, the strategy would help with future planning.

“There’s an opportunity for council to start moulding together some of these communities to have, and using the Bannockburn Heart as an example, one good asset that services many communities and spread them across the Shire,” he said.

“But those dreams of swimming pools are still very much many years away.”

As part of the feedback there were 286 survey responses, 33 clubs and committees made input and 178 people gave their take on via face-to-face opportunities at six listening posts.