Economic and Governance.
Cobar Shire Council has started work on its Community Engagement Strategy plan holding their first community feedback session on Thursday at Ward Oval Pavilion.
A group of 28 people, which included councillors and staff, took part in the 90 minute session.
Participants were asked to think about what they wanted to see happen in the town to give council an idea of what grants they should pursue.
“We’re looking at the town, the community, the villages, what you’d like to see in the future,” Mayor Jarrod Marsden said.
He said council wanted to know what its residents’ priorities were, whether that was in the form of a building or helping to bring doctors to the town.
General manager Peter Vlatko said suggestions and ideas from the sessions will help to create an operational plan for council for the next four years and also serve as a “report card” for council to be responsible to.
“It’s an opportunity to contribute and make a difference to our community,” Mr Vlatko said.
Last week’s session had a focus on five key areas: environment, infrastructure, community, economic and governance.
With regards to the environment, some of the group’s priorities included: water, water availability, water quality, the Newey, trees, getting urban areas cleaned up, solar power on council assets such as the pool and the youth centre, footpaths, mixed traffic zones, the upkeep of stormwater drains, and installing a privacy screen to the street for the Drummond Park toilets.
Suggestions around infrastructure included: finishing the projects council has already in the pipeline, water affordability, housing development, attracting developers, a heavy vehicle by-pass, kerb and gutter upgrades, footpath upgrades, install shade around Ward Oval, heat the pool and disabled parking at west end of the CBD.
Ideas related to community included: wellbeing hub, crisis accommodation, incentives to attract doctors, community events in Drummond Park, a group home for mentally disabled people, a welcome to town program similar to Rotary’s, community events in the Pavilion, upgrading basketball courts at youth centre and collaboration of sporting groups.
On the economic wish list was: fill empty shops, cafes with alfresco dining, revenue raisers such as parking fines, look at other industries, army base, other training facilities, attracting developers, more townhouses and two bedroom units, ideas for the Grand Hotel, more collaboration with partner councils and subsidised rent for pop up local businesses.
Governance ideas put forward included: financial sustainability of council, more program funding, set clear direction and goals for the community, be proactive in getting grants, get State and Federal governments to accept responsibility for services they should be providing, less FIFO and DIDO, support civic pride in community events and funding to pipe the Albert Priest.
Mr Vlatko said there was a lot of feedback for his staff to collaborate and bring back to a future session for more discussion.
He encouraged residents to talk to their neighbours and friends, attend future sessions and to complete the online survey.
