Five councils in the Murchison region of Tasmania have united to help create a sustainable future for the area, and are now asking residents to contribute to the plan.
The Sustainable Murchison Community Plan is an initiative of Burnie City Council, Circular Head Council, King Island Council, Waratah-Wynyard Council and West Coast Council and aims to provide a unified vision for Murchison over the next 25 years.
The plan will strongly integrate and link with Burnie City Council’s Making Burnie 2030 Community Plan and will consider linkages with the remaining Cradle Coast Councils. It will also build on the West Coast Community Plan 2025, linking it to broader Murchison region priorities.
The Councils invited tenders for the project in September last year, with funding support from the State Government.
Circular Head Council Mayor Daryl Quilliam said the Councils engaged consultants Geografia, who have recently completed the Greater Launceston Plan, to undertake planning process.
“This process is an important step to help us plan for the future of Murchison and there will be a number of opportunities for people to have their say,” Mayor Quilliam said.
“With the help of Geografia, and the work of Tasmanian consultants Campbell and Jones, as well as Council staff, we will be holding a number of focus groups, community workshops, community open days and other events to capture people’s aspirations.”
There will be an online survey, discussion board and polls for the project hosted at www.placespeak.com/murchison2040
Copies of the survey and a postcard with key questions will be also made available to those without internet access.
King Island Council Mayor Duncan McFie said the project is an opportunity for residents of the Councils to say what is important to them.
“We want you to tell us what your vision is for the future of your community and the Murchison region,” Mayor McFie said.
“This is all about defining what’s not working well and not working so well so we can identify not only the challenges for the region, but also the opportunities.”
Waratah-Wynyard Council Mayor Robby Walsh said the project would have a huge impact on the region.
“The Murchison of today will no doubt look very different in the year 2040, and now is our chance to get ready for what’s to come.
“This means we need to look at everything from education, health, transport, the economy and much more.”
West Coast Council Mayor Phil Vickers said the West Coast Community Plan 2025 had laid the foundations for his community, now the focus needed to be on the region.
“It is thanks to the contribution of the West Coast that we have such a clear vision of what we will do at the local level in the next 10 years.
“Now we need to work with our closest neighbours to see how this all fits in with the bigger picture and what will happen in the Murchison region over the next 25 years.”
Burnie City Council Mayor Anita Dow said Burnie City Council is pleased to be involved in this important sub regional project.
“It makes great sense for Burnie as the regional centre to be working closely with the other four councils to plan for the future of the greater Murchison region which will build on our community’s plan for the future Making Burnie 2030,” Mayor Dow said.
The community and stakeholder engagement has now commenced with a webpage set up to for people to keep up to date with what is happening on the project and links to different ways for residents to have a say.
