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Wellington leads the State with groundbreaking Population Policy

Wellington Shire Council is to lead the way for local government in Victoria by compiling and implementing a groundbreaking Population Policy to address the impact of an ageing population on the local economy and services.

By Wellington Shire Council - 26th April 2004 - Back to News

The first council to participate in this State Government initiative, Wellington is receiving funding from the Department of State and Regional Development for the project. It is also receiving the expertise of a leading authority in this area of study – Dr Craig Shepherd of the National Institute of Economic and Industry Research (NIEIR). He is author of this year’s State of the Regions Report on the issue - designed to assist councils across Australia as they develop strategies to promote the regional and economic development of their communities.

The ageing of Australian society in general during the next 20 years presents regional communities and small towns with challenges that have not been encountered in the past and many may not appreciate the extent of the impact.

Over the coming weeks Wellington, working with the NIEIR, will be seeking to identify the main population issues facing towns across the shire. A program of comprehensive local consultation - including interviews, public meetings and focus groups - is being coordinated with help from the council’s Community Development Unit.

Individual town reports will be compiled based on the feedback. These will look at the affects on the economic and demographic viability of each town covered, the likely age mix and the consequent impact on infrastructure provision, schooling and council and government resources. They will be incorporated in the resulting Population Policy.

The council is inviting the shire community to help with the research by attending any of the public meetings organised during May. There is no age restriction and everyone is welcome to participate. Simply turn up on the day. The dates and times are:

Wednesday 12 May: Heyfield Resource Centre 4pm
                                
Wellington Room, Port of Sale 7pm
                                
Civic Centre

Thursday 13 May:     Loch Sport Public Hall 4pm
                                
Maffra Memorial Hall 7pm

Friday 14 May:          Yarram District Health Service 4pm
                                
(Multipurpose Room)

It is expected that Wellington Shire Council will have its Population Policy prepared and ready to implement in time for the coming financial year. m/f…

Said Wellington’s Chief Executive Officer, Lyndon Webb: "To be the first council in Victoria to pursue such an understanding of our shire’s changing character and influences will be setting Wellington in a most advantageous position. Not only will we be at the forefront with such important information about our people and their future needs, but we will be leading the way for other councils across the State, and acting as a benchmark for them to follow in compiling their own Population Policies.

"There is no doubt that the impact on Wellington of an ageing population over the next 20 years will be profound. We need to identify particular needs and pressure points now so that we can start to prepare for the future. The timing of the current research is spot-on and we would encourage the community to participate as fully as possible, because at the end of the day, how our population changes is going to impact on everyone."

For more information on the Population Policy please contact Wellington Shire Council’s Community Planner Julia Farrell on 1300 366 244.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com



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