Barwon region assembles again

THE Barwon Regional Assembly has convened again, testing the plans for the future of the region with about 300 people at an event in Geelong.

Held at Simonds Stadium last week, the assembly is the second such event staged by the Barwon Regional Partnership, which will eventually deliver recommendations to the state government about what projects and infrastructure should be funded.

Participants were asked to consider three themes – Pride in Our Place, Young People Are Our Future and The Economy We Need – and to use their smartphones to vote in a poll with a series of options about what would make the biggest difference in each theme.

“Homelessness and housing” was ranked the highest priority in Pride in Our Place, “Engage our young people and their aspirations” was the highest in Young People Are Our Future, and “Aboriginal heritage, culture and places” was the highest in The Economy We Need (but that result may be biased; the third poll received more than 100 extra votes than either of the first two so some participants may have voted twice).

Barwon Regional Partnership chair Kylie Warne said she was pleased with the quality and depth of conversations on every table.

“What I’m really keen to do is convene the next Partnership meeting and review it all in totality.”

She said Aboriginal heritage, culture and places was an emerging point of interest across the state.

“I can’t wait to look at our priorities through the prism of our First People, and see what opportunities we have to lift them along with the rest of our community.”

Several students from Northern Bay College and Geelong High School took part in the assembly, but Ms Warne said she wanted to see more take part in the 2018 event.

“I don’t think we had many young people last year, we’ve certainly made inroads this year, and we want to grow the representation of our youth at these assemblies.”

For more information on the partnership, head to engage.vic.gov.au/barwon.