By KATH GANNAWAY
IT’S official – size really doesn’t matter.
Powelltown, Gilderoy and Three Bridges may have less than 500 people between them, but at the launch of the Little Yarra Valley (PG&3B) Community Plan on 28 June, they demonstrated that they took on board the words, two years ago, of community planning guru, Peter Kenyon.
Little Yarra Community Planning Group member, Kym Mallamaci, said his messages to the community at one of the first workshops struck a chord.
She quoted him; “Small communities won’t be saved by the cavalry coming over the hill … if we want to keep what we love, or build what we need, it’s up to us … and size really doesn’t matter”.
Ms Mallamaci was talking to more than 50 community members and invited dignitaries including representatives of State Government, Yarra Ranges Council and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP).
The Little Yarra Valley PG&3B Community Plan has been a two-year process by the Little Yarra Valley Community Planning Group addressing issues including transport, heritage, tourism, services for children, community safety, business development, and community cohesion.
The plan has produced a snapshot of the three communities, looking at the past, present and future and lays out a vision for the future.
Ms Mallamaci said more than 400 ideas had been collected through several workshops, events and surveys across all ages with around 20 per cent of the population responding.
The ideas have been grouped and prioritised with projects and actions identified under five themes.
“The appealing thing for me about community planning was that it provided a way to connect the hard-working efforts of a number of groups and volunteers for greater co-ordination and synergy,” she said.
Projects that have already been started are a facebook page and logo competition, identification of transport possibilities, greater advocacy and awareness of emergency issues, broader use of the local hall for young people and a plan and start to building a heritage trail.
The launch of the Timber Town Heritage Trail was a highlight of the day that included free films and activities for children, entertainment and a community afternoon tea.
“Today really marks the beginning of many things to come,” Ms Mallamaci said, flagging a bigger vision for the creation of a rail trail between Yarra Junction and Noojee.
Developing tourism is just one of the themes and the information boards, produced by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DEWLP) Forest Management Team at Powelltown bring the history to life.
