8/8/2019 Community Plan Report

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Copyright Starfish Enterprises 2010Chief Editors: Adam Blakester & Michael O’Loughlin  Compiled and designed by: Michael O’Loughlin & Irene Lemon

 All images copyright ilemon2010 

Walcha: A community that bands together for those in need.

Proud of the best level of services for the size of the township, Walcha Community’s assets and

social services bind together the people of the area, creating a resilient community. They know

how to support themselves to survive the challenges despite the losses that the community has

suffered. The next biggest challenge Walcha has identified is to

Become an Innovative community; developing a community strategy toachieve their future goals… 

THIS IS THEIR STORY!

8/8/2019 Community Plan Report

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 Walcha Community Plan - Building a Strong Healthy Resilient Sustainable

New England & Regional Communities

 Adam BlakesterMick O'Loughlin

New England Sustainable Strategy - an Environmental Trust NSWfunded project partnered by Armidale Dumeresq, Uralla,

Guyra & Walcha Councils

 Walcha's

People

Social

Infrastructure

 Assets

Diversity of 

 Agri-Businesses

- Skills

& Environmental

Strengths

Caring Friendly - pride'a community that can

hold its head up'

raised money for Pool, Aged Care Facility, Hall

Bands Together forthose in need

- family feel withsupport networks

community supportsitself; gets on with it; surviveschallenges, despitelosses

Healthy Country Soil Types, Good

Rainfall, Head of 4river catchments

Intelligent -learning off eachother, balanced

approach tofarming, awareof impacts onenvironment

balanced

80% retirein Walcha

Support localbusinesses

Partnership with AboriginalCommunity - culturalchanges to cemetery 

 Approachable

stand alone Councilthat opens & connects

 with community supports enterprises

Quality outdoor work recognised,

financially responsible

Misses out on ups& downs of western

inland regions

Best Levelof services fora town this size

 Adequate Aged CareHealth Ancillary Care Facilities,

Pre-School

 Wealth fromindustry with

3 Banks, CreditUnion

 WoolGrazing 

Every Kidis catered for with sports, free

pool, sporting clubs, volunteers,

overseas tourspromoted

Garden VisitsRodeos

 Accessesuses

CSIROUNE

researchup to date

information

Services for thosein need - incl.HACC, early ChildhoodDisability 

Businesses givetheir 'best shot'

Good Schoolnetwork - central& villages - job

pathways

 Access toUNE

Serviced by 2 regionalairports

National Parks Wild & Bird life

Geographiclocation

3 service clubs

Bikers Trail Tourism

Flow-thrutraffic N-S

& E-W Outdoor

- Art

 TourismNationally recognisedlocal Artistsoverseas artists

come to stay 

Keep Working on

Economic Sustainability

of Walcha Enterprises

- Community

Maintaining the

Feel - Identity of 

 Walcha

- representation etc

Reversing decline &

achieving critical

 population size

age succession

of volunteers

Retain & Attract

 Youth back 

to Walcha

Retaining families in

 Walcha while working 

away in Mining jobs

nearby 

No Publiccommunity 

transport

Cost Rises -

self-sufficiency in

energy, water -

remaining an

appealing 

competitive place

 Transportation

& Road network 

Renewal Trades

 Apprentices

- issue of bureaucracy 

regulations

 Attracting New 

Enterprises - Jobs

using Broadband

to attract

new enterprises

Maintaining

 Viability

Sustainability

of Agriculture

against outside

pressures eg wool

 with PETA

education

partnerships

 with city centric

sensitivities

around agriculture

Murray-Darling 

 water caps may affectsome in community 

Difficulty of 

attracting outside

support funding 

maintaining health

providers & police

 Attract

new 

enterprises

using 

broadband

Create employment

opportunities

renewal of apprentices

 Tourism

- capitalising on

natural attributes

bird-watchers,

gardens - deciduous

tree plantings

geographical

position -

thru traffic

across region

Build on

Retirement

town

taxi business

enterprise

1. Being InnovativeStrategy- attracting

new enterprises,employment for

 youth

- Building on what'salready happening &mainatining uniquesocial fabric

 with key focusareas...

1.1 Attract new 

Broadband based

enterprises - computer

skills appealing to youth

1.3 Enhance Tourism -

& ecotourism

1.2 Foster Sustainable

Renewable Energy

1.4 Attract Elderly

People & flow-on health

services employment

Council to convene

 Walcha Steering Cmtte

across community,service clubs & people

 with expertise

to drive strategy -

process, identify 

partners, resources

to enable

innovation strategy 

promote apprentices

support group &

programs

organise lock-up with

key Govt. Regional

Development Bodies

to pitch - reach

agreement

establish time-line

for objectives

 Walcha Steering 

Cmtte. formedPopulation

Increase

 Awareness of 

 Walcha Plan

New businesses

attracted to town

Enrolments at

School

Expansion of 

existing businesses

new apprenticeships

Employment rises

Ongoing 

relationships

 with Regional

Development

Bodies - RDANI,

DII, AusIndustry,BEC

Making this Plan useful

Health

Complex

building onto - integrating 

gym, mens shed

 The Walcha SEED Plan is part of the 21 regionalcommunity planning dialogues inputing into the Northern Inland Regional Development Planby Regional Development Australia Northern Inland