3 September 2010

Media Release

Opportunity for Guyra & Walcha to Shape 3 Plans in One Forum

Guyra and Walcha community members and organisations are invited to participate in a unique local forum and open dialogue. The event will help shape three regional and community plans, all at the one time. The Guyra and Walcha Community Planning Dialogues are a partnered initiative between the New England Sustainability Strategy (NESS) and Regional Development Australia Northern Inland (RDANI). They are the final community forums in a series of 19 that have taken place across the Region over the last few months. The format of the Guyra and Walcha Forums is open discussion, said NESS Convenor, Adam Blakester. It is about hearing from local people of all ages, with diverse interests, roles and ideas. Relaxed, open discussion should provide the best way for people to comfortably voice their localised concerns, ideas and community needs. We want to hear people in the Guyra and Walcha areas talking and working together, identifying challenges, opportunities and sustainable development priorities. The outcomes of the Guyra and Walcha Forums will shape three distinct plans at the very same time. First, a local sustainable development plan will be created for the use and benefit of each community. Then, the outcomes identified will form part of both the region-wide New England Sustainability Strategy and also the larger Northern Inland Regional Plan. RDANI is a new joint Australian-NSW Government initiative. The RDANI Regional Plan will serve as a key resource that will guide future funding and development work across the Northern Inland. The Walcha and Guyra Forums will help us to better support sustainable development in those communities. The forums should be valuable and practical steps towards ensuring that regional development efforts in the Northern Inland region are relevant and responsive to local communities, RDANI Executive Officer, Nathan Axelsson said. The Regional Plan will be a blueprint that RDANI will work to for the next five to ten years. It will serve as a resource tool for RDANI, the Australian and NSW Governments, and our local communities. The Forums are being held from 5.30pm for a 6pm start and finish at 9pm at Guyra Shire Council Chambers on Tuesday 14 September and Walcha Shire Council Chambers on Wednesday 15 September. RSVP is required as supper will be provided. The Forums are open to all members and organisations interested in the strength, sustainability and development of the local community and wider region. To RSVP for the Guyra or Walcha Forum, or to find out more, please contact Adam Blakester on 6775 2501, 0419 808 909, adam@starfishenterprises.org, or go to www.ness.wikidot.com. To find out more about the RDANI Regional Plan go to www.rdani.org.au or call 6771 2790. Caption: Regional Development Australia Northern Inland Executive Officer, Nathan Axelsson, RDANI Project Officer, Kim-Trieste Hastings and Convenor of the New England Sustainability Strategy, Adam Blakester.