Assembly: independent and up to the job
Dr Mark Harris’s letter yesterday requires a response on behalf of the Central Highlands Regional Partnership. The Regional Assembly that was held in Ballarat last week was only one of a matrix activities and consultations that the Regional Partnerships Committee has been and will continue to be involved in. There were a number of pre-engagement initiatives prior to the Assembly.
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Dr Harris is aware that one of those pre-engagement activities was via our Health team within the Committee, who met with senior members of the Health services across our region. It wasn’t a once off. It’ll be a continual conversation. The teams also cover, health, education, infrastructure, regional industries, agriculture and the environment amongst others. All are pursuing similar access and consultation to leaders in the field. He is aware of the fact that I have undertaken to report back regularly to the community and stakeholders and that process has already started with initial results on the website.
And of the Regional Assembly, so many people from our communities (not the usual suspects) gave willingly and enthusiastically of their time. The messages we came away with were diverse, but clear and articulate. Contrary to Dr Harris’s views, these voices are worthy of being listened to and respected. Equally, we will be consulting with Council members of all of the Councils in the Central Highlands region. We are as much of a resource for them as we are for the members of the communities they were elected to represent.
This Committee is a strong and independent group of minds. We will through some hard, extensive and continual work refine what the community is telling us in those ongoing conversations with them, and that message will be delivered to the Minister and Cabinet without fear or favour. We didn’t put our hands up for this arduous but important journey to do otherwise. And as I have said before, this will be different.
George Fong, Chair, Central Highlands Regional Partnership
A strategic vision on environment needed
Congratulations Cr. McIntosh on your elevation as mayor. I appreciated your letter to initiate a conversation with the people of Ballarat (Courier, 19/11). I note your overwhelming focus is on Ballarat's CBD, infrastructure, and construction: this is your 'big vision which will bring significant local and regional benefits.' We used to have a 'triple bottom line' of economy, society and environment. We are letting environment go despite its increasing significance. I'd love to see some attention to environment in there. Here's a great idea: a strategic vision for the long term that would be a great legacy.
It could lessen planning conflict and introduce more certainty for environment and neighbourhood character across Ballarat. Why not do a big-picture Urban Neighbourhood Character Assessment across Ballarat to be embedded in the planning scheme? It could introduce layers of protection for the environment according to neighbourhood character, e.g. 'garden/suburban', bush/suburban, and bush environmental. It's not my idea. It works well in a major metropolitan centre. We need more vision for that which sustains not only us humans, but a healthy world as well.
Linda Zibell, Mount Helen
We need to look to regions to ease growth pain
Managing our future population is one of Victoria's most important challenges and it is vital we start making these plans today. Population growth is not a challenge unique to the city. We also need to plan for the future populations of our rural and regional communities. I grew up not far from Boort in the Loddon Shire. It is a proud community in the heart of agricultural Victoria but, like many parts of country Victoria, more people are moving away than settling in.