Teesdale’s community survey results now available

DATA has been collected from Teesdale residents and collated into a community engagement report to be used as input for the new Teesdale Structure Plan.

Over 25 per cent of the community responded to surveys and attended conversation posts.

Overwhelmingly of the 166 people who took the time to engage in the Shire’s call for comments, 90 per cent were residents while the remainder were landowners, businesses and developers.

The key theme for the aspiration of the township was retaining and maintaining its country rural community character.

However, 50 per cent of the respondents want to see more commercial facilities.

When answering whether Teesdale would benefit from an entrance feature to the township, 60 per cent of residents thought it was a good idea with two popular options proposed

First an entrance feature taking the form of trees or landscaping and second constructing a stone wall similar to that of Inverleigh and Lethbridge.

In the survey, council proposed three choices, entrance feature, street trees and bird boxes, as the best small community project it could provide.

It also welcomed other suggestions from the community.

Some of the strongly supported alternatives put forward were road maintenance and safety, more paths and trails and maintenance of flora and fauna.

It was noted in the community engagement report that several the suggestions raised are too costly to undertake as part of the Structure Plan process.

However, council will keep the community responses in mind for future projects which could be advocated for.

Concern over the creation of smaller sized allotments and an increase of residential development this would allow, statistically was the driving factory for residents in the opposition to reticulated sewerage in Teesdale.

The new Teesdale Structure Plan is expected to be finalised early next year.

The Community Engagement Report is available online at goldenplains.vic.gov.au/residents/my-home/planning/strategic-planning.