Council commits to inclusive, connected community

Bundaberg Regional Council will further enhance its commitment to inclusion, participation, accessibility and connectivity through its Community Development Strategy.

Community Services portfolio spokesperson Cr Tracey McPhee said within the 2022-23 financial year Council would adopt the strategy which would shape its community development program for the next five years.

“Through our community development team Council provides a wide range of programs and support which benefit not-for-profit organisations and all residents, from the youngest in our community to the most senior,” Cr McPhee said.

“The work they do focuses on four main pillars – inclusion, participation, accessibility and connectivity.

“Whether it’s Options Day, Neighbour Day or any of the working groups Council sits on, our goal is to strengthen and connect our community.”

Key community development activities include the annual Flourish Family Fun Day which provides fun and inclusive entertainment while connecting residents with essential child health and family services.

“We provide community grants that can help local organisations with development, infrastructure and equipment so that they can focus on what they do best.

“Grant application workshops also provide vital advice to help those groups secure these and other grants.”

Connected community is strategy's focus

She said over the next six months Council would continue to collate feedback from residents to incorporate into the Community Development Strategy which would provide direction for the following five years.

“We first adopted a Community Development Strategy three years ago,” Cr McPhee said.

“Now we want residents to tell as how we’ve been doing, to look out our four priority areas and tell us if we got it right and highlight if there are any other areas they feel we should be addressing.

“This will help us to identify opportunities for the following five years.”

The Community Development Strategy will guide the team to develop and create opportunities to participate socially and professionally and to provide safe and accessible spaces in order to grow social connections.

Its goal is to provide a roadmap to work with the community to facilitate connectivity through referrals, events and content to educate, upskill, partner, listen actively and, most of all, connect.