-FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE-
16 October 2019
Cootamundra 2050 Strategy Community Comment Invited
The need for a Cootamundra Town Strategy was identified as being required for the formulation of the new Cootamundra-Gundagai Local Environmental Plan (LEP) and the Cootamundra-Gundagai Local Strategic Planning Statement.
The Cootamundra 2050 strategy examines in depth a range of issues and opportunities under six broad headings referencing global issues facing Australia and the impacts and opportunities for Cootamundra: Demographics, Trust, Social cohesion, Rise of Asia, Technological change, Climate change and Environment.
The strategy will serve as the background document which will inform the Cootamundra area component of the Local Strategic Planning Statements (LSPS), the Cootamundra-Gundagai LEP and the Cootamundra-Gundagai DCP.
Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council undertook extensive community engagement with the Cootamundra community throughout June 2019 to capture not only how Cootamundrians were feeling about their town currently, but what opportunities they saw for the town in the future. A key outcome of the engagement was to a vision for Cootamundra to work towards.
Engaging with the community for the Cootamundra 2050 strategy revealed a real thirst for change, creation of a vision and implementation of a plan to see Cootamundra grow and tackle a range of existing and future challenges.
By planning for the future, Council can partner with the people of Cootamundra to deliver the physical infrastructure and services they need to be the friendly, sustainable and well serviced community they envision. This time of reflection and planning is the opportunity for Cootamundra to be a more liveable, sustainable and prosperous town.
CGRC mayor Cr Abb McAlister said, “In order to achieve this, we need to be realistic and have some tough conversations. Urban sprawl has to be contained to ensure that our delivery of infrastructure is done in a way which is equitable and cost effective to all. Every person in our community needs to have equitable access to education, recreation and other social opportunities without physical, financial and social barriers dividing us and leaving some behind.”
The community consultation uncovered key values citizens want for Cootamundra 2050 are for Cootamundra to be, Friendly, Community orientated, Well serviced, Vibrant, and Sustainable.
The Draft Cootamundra 2050 Strategy is available from Councils website www.cgrc.nsw.gov.au; or by visiting either Council Office. Community comment on the Draft Cootamundra 2050 Strategy are required to be made in writing and received by 5:00pm, Friday 1 November, 2019. Submissions may be delivered to either Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council offices; Posted to the General Manager, Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council, PO Box 420 Cootamundra NSW 2590 or Emailed to mail@cgrc.nsw.gov.au. Further information can be obtaining by contacting Council’s Development, Building and Compliance team on 1300 459 689.
