COUNCIL MEETING Agenda ITEM 8.6

8.6 Vision 2020 Community Plan (2009 review)

SUMMARY
Vision 2020 – the Yarra Ranges Community Plan, has recently been reviewed and updated.
Vision 2020 articulates our community’s vision for the future. It serves as a guide to influence and shape present day decision making and action by the entire Yarra Ranges community to ensure that hopes of a sustainable future can become a reality.

The process of reviewing Vision 2020 has involved extensive community consultation. A number of changes have been made to the previous version, reflecting the most recent priorities, values and aspirations expressed by our community.

The revised Vision 2020 will be widely distributed throughout the community and available on the website and at all the Community Links.

It is recommended that Council endorse and adopt the revised Vision 2020.
BACKGROUND
Vision 2020 was first developed in 1999 and paints a picture of the kind of community we would all like to see and live in for the future. The document is based around seven themes namely:

· Strong, Healthy and Connected Communities
· Environmental Stewardship
· Built Environment
· Local Economy and Tourism
· Arts, Culture and Heritage
· A Living and Learning Community
· A Safe and Accessible Shire

Subsequently, the document has been ‘checked’ with the Yarra Ranges community in 2003 and 2006 to capture any shifts in community views.

AGENDA ITEM NO. 8.6

YARRA RANGES SHIRE COUNCIL AGENDA – 22/09/09 106

The 2008-09 review has now been concluded and a number of changes have been made. The most notable of these is the inclusion of ten community priorities which work across the themes namely:
· Ecological Sustainability
· Connecting the Community
· Council’s Role – Good Governance
· Affordable and Sustainable Housing
· Farming
· Youth and Children
· Ageing Population
· Transport
· Localising the Economy
· Mental and Physical Health

The Vision 2020 review process was timed to ensure that the review outcomes informed the development of the 2009-2013 Council Plan.

CONSULTATION
The Yarra Ranges community had a number of opportunities to be involved in the Vision 2020 review and were supported by Council and a Community Reference Group. The views and ideas of a cross-section of the community were gathered through the following mechanisms:
· Online and written submissions to a Discussion Paper (25 received).

· Youth interviews (30 interviewed).
· Children’s survey and artwork program (196 received).
· Children’s workshop (31 participants).

The outcomes were then fed into a Community Forum held over two consecutive Saturdays which involved 87 participants comprising community members representing key stakeholder groups, those who self registered as well as those randomly invited to be involved. Following this consultation program a draft revised document was then developed and made available for further comment. Eight written submissions were received in response to the draft document

The community views expressed throughout the consultation process have directly informed the revised Vision 2020 Community Plan that is now submitted for endorsement and adoption.

RECOMMENDATION

That Council endorse and adopt the revised Vision 2020 Community Plan.

Comment:

I am glad to see that our vision for our Shire has expanded from 7 key issues to 10 key issues. I am also glad to see a great number of "locals" involved.