Community gatherings to benefit future of townsA further six towns in the Latrobe Valley are involving their communities in surveying their locale By Latrobe City Council - 5th February 2002 - Back to News A further six towns in the Latrobe Valley are involving their communities in surveying their locale and taking photographs of various perceived positive and negative attributes as part of a project facilitated through the Rural Leadership Program.
Morwell, Moe, Traralgon, Traralgon South, Boolarra and Glengarry will follow the same process as the six communities facilitated through a similar StreetLife program last year, once the photographic and township surveys have been completed.
Latrobe City’s Rural Leadership Officer, Marilyn Marino, said the information gathered would be used to develop themes and images of the six local communities, from which positive aspects of their community, and potential areas for improvement can be identified.
"From their findings, the communities can utilise the information to develop a community development project with funding that is being allocated to each of the twelve townships," Ms Marino said.
"The Rural Leadership Program builds upon the earlier success of the StreetLife program, stimulating business and township growth and is funded by the Victorian Government and matched dollar-for-dollar by Latrobe City Council."
Ms Marino said that community involvement in the six towns is currently being invited through a series of community gatherings.
Gatherings are being held at: Glengarry – 6pm Thursday 7 February at Apex Park, Main Street; Boolarra – 2pm Sunday 10 February at ‘Music in the Park’, Railway Reserve; Morwell – 6pm Monday 11 February at Kernot Hall; Moe – 6pm Wednesday 13 February Gippsland Heritage Park; and Traralgon South – 6pm Thursday 21 February at the Community Hall, Cats Drive. Traralgon’s event will be held in March on a date to be advised. Each of the community gatherings will commence with a free sausage sizzle.
"Toongabbie, Newborough, Tyers, Yallourn North, Churchill and Yinnar underwent a community photographic and township survey last year and the
findings from last year’s programs will be presented at an additional series of community gatherings where community development project funds will also be allocated," Ms Marino said.
These are being held at: Churchill – 6pm Tuesday 5 February at the Churchill Town Hall, Phillip Parade; Yinnar – 6pm Wednesday 6 February at the Yinnar and District Memorial Hall in Main Street; Tyers – 6pm Tuesday 12 February at the Tyers Town Hall, Main Street; Newborough – 6pm Monday 18 February at the Newborough Town Hall, Balfour Street; Yallourn North – 6pm Tuesday 19 February at Monash Hall, Reserve Street; and Toongabbie – 6pm Monday 25 February at the Mechanics Institute King Street. Again, each of the community gatherings will commence with a free sausage sizzle.
Latrobe City Mayor, Councillor Brendan Jenkins, said the Rural Leadership Program is important to the municipality as a whole, as it forms part of the City’s Economic Development initiative to sustain, maintain and retain growth throughout communities, irrespective of their size within Latrobe City.
"The Rural Leadership Program will provide real opportunities for local township communities to influence the future direction of the Municipality’s regional townships," Cr Jenkins said.
"Information gathered from Toongabbie, Yallourn North and Yinnar has already been used by Latrobe City Council to assist with structure plans which set out the future direction of the towns, in relation to design solutions, architecture, traffic management, landscaping and street furniture," Cr Jenkins added.
For more information on the Rural Leadership Program, contact Latrobe City’s Rural Leadership Officer, Marilyn Marino, telephone 1300 367 700.
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: support@gippslander.com

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