A GROUP of locals have banded together to form a strong community voice in hope that they will be able to liaise with Great Lakes Council to effectively meet the desires of residents, commercial and environmental needs of our area.
Tea Gardens resident Helen Jones addressed last month's council meeting and brought to council's attention the reasons for the creation of the Community Consultative Committee (CCC), its purpose and representation.
Mrs Jones believes that although council is listening to the community, as they have moved to address key concerns after community consultation, that there is still a need for more open communication between Great Lakes Council and the broader community (ratepayers).
"The proposed 2(b) zoning of the Draft Housing Strategy has been reduced and council have also moved to re-assess the Tea Gardens waterfront redevelopment, with the community awaiting new plans for review," Mrs Jones said.
"We want to encourage local residents, rate payers, Great Lakes Council, government departments, and instrumentalities to work better together to ensure the amenity, village character and natural scenic beauty of the area that our community calls home is maintained with sympathetic and sustainable development," she said.
"The CCC is about creating a balance between the community and Great Lakes Council.
"We realise that our councillors are extremely busy and we want to make it very clear that we are here to support the councillors, not replace them," she added.
The purpose of the CCC would be to assist council in keeping the broader community informed and updated on key strategic issues in order to work towards providing solutions that benefit the council and the community.
The CCC consists of eight members who in turn represent a large number of people within their individual organisations.
"These are the kind of numbers that council could be talking to.
"This would make sure that whatever council needs to tell the community, it will be told," Mrs Jones said.
The CCC would also like to appoint a liaison representative to address the community and report to the group via monthly meetings and email.
"If possible it would be beneficial to meet every six months with our councillors, the mayor and CCC representatives for an update," she said.
Mrs Jones believes the benefits of the committee would be that council could expect a lot more people to attend community forums.
"A broader community input in the early stages of development and planning will help provide savings to council's time, effort and money.
"We are talking about harmony. We would basically like to be on the same wavelength," she said.
The CCC seeks to develop an affiliative relationship of open communication with Great Lakes Council to each organisation's mutual benefit.
Great Lakes Council's Mayor, Clr John Chadban, said the concept wasn't outside the thinking of the council.
"Today is a wonderful example of how the system doesn't work at the moment.
"Because time is short today, we will take your ideas on board to review and we may even arrange a meeting with your representatives at a later date," he said.
Email a friend