Council probes plan

By RUSSELL BENNETT
CARDINIA Shire Council has agreed to further investigate key elements of the draft Emerald Community Facilities Spatial Plan.
And now Emerald residents will get another chance to have crucial input into the future makeup of their town.
The plan outlines a vision for the town’s sporting and community facilities, which also service the broader Ranges Ward.
It includes revised master plans for Worrell Reserve and Pepi’s Land and takes into account the original plans for the Emerald library and community complex.
Emerald Community House chairwoman Mary Farrow described the council’s original timeframe on the draft spatial plan as “unnecessarily urgent”, with a community house forum earlier this year unearthing strong views from a range of locals on their hopes and dreams for the town.
“We are hopeful that council has seen the light regarding community engagement and we acknowledge council management’s wisdom to yield to the community voice in this case.”
Non Blair, also from the community house, said July’s community forum attracted over 80 people who produced around 60 pages worth of feedback, in addition to other online submissions.
“It is good news that council has decided to hold back on adopting the plans until they get further community involvement,” Ms Blair said.
“Hopefully they will genuinely involve the broader community in future planning so that local knowledge will prevent any oversights or mistakes.”
Cardinia Shire’s community wellbeing general manager Fiona Hodges said council would not consider a revised plan until after council elections this year, with further community consultation anticipated in early 2013.
“Given the public interest in the plan and the desire by council to ensure we get the best possible outcome, we felt it was important to ensure the feedback already received from the community is appropriately considered and that key components are further investigated,” she said.
“We want to get the best outcome possible and residents have told us they would like further input into the plan. Council will ensure there will be further consultation and we will certainly be promoting the next phase of the process when it occurs.”
The council also received responses from the Emerald Village Committee, Cockatoo Township Committee and local sporting groups and community organisations.