The four Local Governments in the Kimberley zone – the Shires of Broome, Derby/West Kimberley, Halls Creek and Wyndham-East Kimberley – meet three or four times a year. Recognising a huge potential to do more together, at its annual forum in 2004, the Kimberley Group of Councils embarked on a process to develop a strategic plan for the region.
In February, the Councils’ four Chief Executive Officers met to draw up an agenda for a strategic planning workshop. This workshop took place in Derby on 12 March. The Councils opted to use an independent facilitator and appointed Perth based Strategic Planner and Facilitator, Dr Liz Pattison, to run the workshop.
“We are determined to have a plan that focuses on outcomes that are achievable and measurable,” said Kimberley Zone President, Tom Vinnicombe. “Most importantly, we want to be sure we do not take on anything that is a State or Federal responsibility.”
The Strategic Plan aims to set out an agreed future direction and action plans for the region. It will also provide a structure and focus for future zone meetings. Above all, it will identify how the four Councils can use their combined power to deliver improved regional outcomes through advocacy, project partnerships including the involvement of other stakeholders in the region, resource sharing, joint purchasing and grant applications and so forth.
The workshop participants resolved that, “The Kimberley will be a model for the world reflecting values of social integrity, economic opportunity and environmental preservation and enhancement. To achieve this we will work together in a spirit of cooperation as the voice of the Kimberley and a force to be reckoned with.”
The Plan is divided into four core business areas – environment, economic development, social development and governance.
Under environmental management, consistent or uniform policy directions for the region will be established particularly in regard to sustainability – managing tourism while protecting the environment.
Economic development initiatives will seek out development and investment opportunities that will increase local employment; source regional training and education to address labour and increasing skills shortages; promote regional living and lifestyle advantages of the Kimberley; facilitate land availability; and lobby other spheres of government for infrastructure support, such as roads, ports and air transport.
Addressing significant social needs across a large area with many remote communities is the main challenge for the social development area. Regional plans will be developed for each of the following – maintaining older residents in the region, youth services, Indigenous communities, housing, recreation, health, homelessness and itinerants, addressing anti social behaviour and substance abuse.
Under governance, the Strategic Plan will establish protocols for working together to achieve economies of scale, resource sharing, establish a regional approach for grants applications and an advocacy model to ensure the other spheres of government are doing the right things.
