SEVERAL key themes have been identified by the City of Mount Gambier following extensive community consultation.
The consultation was to develop a vision to guide council’s strategic planning process for the next decade.
In the initial phase of the project, council engaged with the community in late 2023 to hear about what residents collectively valued, wanted to be known for and the opportunities to embrace or challenges to overcome.
Key themes raised included Mount Gambier/Berrin becoming a city with considered population targets, achieving sustainable, high-quality services, opportunity and activity as well as being committed to preserving and enhancing the environment through sustainability and custodianship.
Other themes included a proud, inclusive and welcoming city with known values and community connection and a safe and supportive city with a focus on the health and wellbeing of its people.
It also included a vibrant and creative city with a living narrative which owns and celebrates its rich cultural identity, a thriving and resilient city which elevates its profile based on its unique environment and economic landscape as well as a well-planned and interconnected city with robust infrastructure supporting sustainable growth.
Mount Gambier chief executive Sarah Philpott said the feedback had since been reviewed with key themes identified for further exploration with key stakeholders and community members as part of the targeted consultation and engagement process.
Ms Philpott also commended the local young people who provided submissions for the ‘Young Thinkers’ competition where entries illustrated what local children love about Mount Gambier/Berrin and what they would like to see in the city in the future.
“It was clear that our youth want fun and active things to do with their friends and family, both indoors and outdoors,” Ms Philpott said.
“They also mentioned things like electronic signage around the Blue Lake/Warwar with translations in different languages, the need for homeless shelters to assist those sleeping rough, tree houses, playgrounds, the Library, shopping and ice skating.
“These ideas will help us to create a better place for our young people in the future.”
Council is also currently facilitating targeted conversations and interviews with key stakeholders and community members to “further explore” the themes from phase one.
The information will be collated and provided to a community panel to support council in shaping Mount Gambier 2035.
The panel will then consider feedback themes and provide recommendations to inform the community vision for Mount Gambier 2035, the strategic priorities for the community and define the cultural identity of the city.
“The opportunity is still available for people to express an interest in being part of the community panel. 40 to 50 community members will be independently selected from a pool of those who express an interest to investigate the key themes relating to the future of Mount Gambier,” Ms Philpott said.
“You don’t need to have any special knowledge about council to join, just an interest in sharing your views and being a voice for your community.”
“As a regional capital, our community extends beyond those who reside and/or pay rates within the City of Mount Gambier and our community includes those from surrounding towns and areas who come to Mount Gambier to access essential infrastructure, services, business, employment and education and we therefore also want to capture these individuals as part of the process.”
Anyone aged over 16 and who lives, works, studies, owns a business in Mount Gambier or is Mount Gambier rate payer is invited to register.
