‘Our Town Our Future’ is an innovative and multi-award winning revitalisation strategy for Ingham in North Queensland.
In 2005, Hinchinbrook Shire Council commissioned Vital Places to turn the tide of longterm economic and social decline. Since the strategy’s completion in late 2006, it has received a highly commended citation in the IAP2 Asia Pacific Public Participation awards where the IAP2 judges acknowledged the strategy to be,
“A really genuine effort to meaningfully engage the community”.
The project has also received a Certificate of Merit in the Planning Institute Queensland awards, where the citation acknowledged the strategy is “a celebration of old and new local values with employment as a major goal”.
What was first seen as a streetscape upgrade has turned into a regionally significant revitalisation project. For Vital Places this project has defined and confirmed the powers of “place-based enterprise”, a more focused approach to delivering catalyst public infrastructure projects.
“It is a brand new world for those that seek to facilitate change through public infrastructure,” said Vital Places Director, Robert Prestipino. “We need smart catalyst strategies that are based on community visions and can deliver cost effective outcomes quickly, that’s what place-based enterprise offers.
“In a time when struggling communities are being priced out of opportunities to restructure themselves, place-based enterprise offers a more effective process to deliver sustainable change.”
The benefits of place-based enterprise are numerous.
For Rob Clark, CEO of Hinchinbrook Shire, it goes straight to the bottom line.
“The strategy has resulted in Council securing State Government funding of $6 million, a feat of which many larger communities are very envious,” Rob Clark said.
To find out more about the thinking behind place-based enterprise contact Robert Prestipino on 0414 550 975 or download a free White Paper at www.vitalplaces.com.au
*Copy supplied by Vital Places
