iIlF;lfd,\

\-.,

t::,tl:,,:, --

Wh4t sqrtot clty dovou want

\Tollongong Futures isthe whole community.for our city and plan acan enjoy and share.

Wollongong Futures is a chance to get involve d andhelp ensure we all work towards reaching that vision.

ArieF ttistoryA community survey identified the need to establish a vision for the City of W'ollongong. At the sametime, there was a clear need to review the crty's statuton- plannLng tool, the Local EnvirSnm"ent plan (LEp).

That orovided an exciting oppofunily to begin a planning process to draw together all elements ofthe city and its future.

\7ollongong Futures, as it is now known, will produce a vision and goals for the city, and ensure thatall subsequent plans support that vision.

an exciting project involvingTogether. \\re can cteate a visionfuture that generations to come

... : .....t......r,"!-.,

,1,,,11,,, ,, l l.FABa:!

j!i:i,iiiIi:itii::iii:i;]r.iri,r:

hl\rY Ao vte nd q Vieioning toyL+?Wollongong faces many challenges. Like many cities around the world, we are in a transition periodfrom traditional industries to a more diverse economy.

This impacts directly on local areas through issues including:

r Economic issues (unemployment, closing down of traditional industries, etc);

. Demographic trends (gentrification, ageing population, diversity, etc);

. Changing social needs (housing, education, social services, etc);

. Social problems (drug use, crime, etc);

In modern cities the world over, local government finds it hard to fund arrd manage the multitude ofemerging issues, and is in a continual state of crisis management.'Wollongong

Futures, with its community visioning process, was developed out of these circumstancesto address the issues by:

. Focussing on a wider range of concerns,

. Seriously considering and incorporating community values,

. Gearing towards the future and preparing for uncertainty and change,

. Developing a shared vision to focus deveiopment efforts.*

hlh,qt i9 Wohn 3o^3 Friura?'J7ollongong Futures is a strategic planning initiative.

Strategic planning determines where an organisation is going and how it is going to get there.

In strategic planning, flexibility is very important in order to be creative and react to new developments.

To develop a strate^gig plarr an organisation needs to develop a vision. A vision provides guidance andmotivation for the following strategic planning process.

Visioning is a process in which a community thinks about the future it wants, develops a shared yision,and plans how to achieve it.

The visioning process:

. Provides a clearer understanding of community values and incorporates it into planning;. Identifies issues and trends that influence development in communities;

' Conveys a comprehensive future-orientated view to guide short and long-term decision making inthe ciryr and

' Develops action plans and implementation tools to achieve a prefer:red future in the city.

If the visioning process does not lead to a vision - and an action plan to reach the vision - then thereis little point in undertaking it.

*Ames, Staen C. (Ed), A Ca.tide to Communitjt \,4sianing (American Planning Association, Wasbington DC, 1998): p 3 - 5

ttoW Ao \de akange t\e Fr/rvre?The role of the vision is to define.a preferred future for the city and to align the Council, communiryand other relevant agencies or stakeholders' efforts to reach the goal.

The elements used to ensure implementation and support of the plans in the'Wollongong Futures processinclude:

. The positioning of the \flollongong Futures Vision as the, ot part of the, \Tollongong Strategic Planthat drives the corporate plan;

An action plan as pal1 of the visioning process;

Internal and external coordination and partnerships within council, with stakeholders and thecommunity;

The development of a decision support system that addresses the vision;

The development of a monitoring and evaluation system to measure how the city is developingin relation to the specific goals under the vision or strategic plan;

Review of the strategic plan in the future.

Fi3ore l. Reaa\ing '*,e PreFerreA Fotore

4qpitql WorL6

Dafiniq *e preFerreA FrtloreenJ alqning qll eFFods a.F t\e

aomturni\ buSineSg qnd

gor.lernnent to it is arueiql inreaa\ing t\qt desired frr'ture.

Pro3rcr'

B{rdg€t

vuo,nJ uselfransportPlanning

€.o^oJ\ic Developheni

PRgSgr..f

6nvironnentql Mana3erent

$adal q d 4.ulturql

Plannin3

Fqilure ta idevrtif,y \,e preFerreA Fttore or to alignall driviq Forces lo t\ig eonnn^on 3oal will rrs,.,lt in in

r.rndesirolle .Future

Objectives

The objectives following the aim of the project are: -- ^-.{ -r^--. Create an overarching plan that will drive subsequent strategies and plans,

. Acknowledge changing character and pro actively plan for it,

. Identrfy a tange of key issues and subsequent strategies,

. Facilitate participation in all sectors (community, political and inter-agency),

. Identify and build on community values,

. Create general cofiunon ownership of plans,

. Design and implement (contribute to) a decision support system,

. Develop indicators to measure progress,

. Develop a reporting system that will flow back into the strategic plan.

Partnerships

Partnerships are vital to achieve the vision for \Wollongong's future.

Coordination, the facilitation of participation and the role that partnerships play rn this regard is animportant element of the \flollongong Futures profect.

Partnerships refer to:

o Active involvement of different groups in the NTollongong Local Government Area,

. The establishment of dialogue beNveen groups,

. Consultation and consensus building with groups,

. Coordination and communication.

These groups refer to the:

. Citizens (the community),

o Elected officials (councillors),

. State goverruTrent agencies,

. Key stakeholders,

. Council staff, etc.

Products

It is expected that thd lWollongong Futures project will provide the following primary product:

A vision statement and action plan that will:. Drive the corporate plan;

. Contribute to other strategic planning initiatives like the LEP, social plan, budget, etc;

o Contribute to a decision support system to support implementation; and

. Contribute to the development indicators that will support the evaluation of \flollongong's development.

*utii,Wr

The process followed in the \Tollongong Futures proiect is based on the Oregon Model.

F4ore 9.1te Nollongang €vlureE Pro.el9

4onnonity g,JrVeY9.

WR'R6 ARg WgGoltJG ?

frendg qnd

Prabqble

5te^a(ioEDstertrine

Cprreri TrertAs

b,sgess

frendi lnpaetqnd

Prabqble9zertqrio.

-

g

ttoN ARg N€ G}IIJG,.

Mahiton^3 and 6valuation,

ldentif,ieqtion and Developr'rento.F lndieators,

qnd

6stqllis\hent of Reporting anJFeeAbqcV gysten.

ttoN Do \l€ Ce€{ fi\eW ?

Aetion/lnplennentqtion plan

ldentitry 6oals

Develop gt:rate3ieS

Salting Priaritieg

Develop q4tian qnJ lnplenent aSenAos

(orporale Plan, Bufuat,&pital WorV+ Prograu, Lqnd Use Plannin3,frangport Planniq, € cartotle Developnent,

6nvironrnentql ManagenentSoeiql qnd 4ultrrral Planntn3 ata.

u

NtteRg Do Ng NANrr rbB€ ?

*'e'leBaseAFozos Groo? 5es9iovt9

Plqce BoseA Diqloguag

lnpbnnartationS.everal

^overlapping implementation elements are crucial to the success of the project. Although they

do not form part as a_distinct phase in the process as set out under the previous heading, thef will":form part of it throughout the process.

Community ParticipationThe aim of this element is involve the community and build community and political support fcrr theproiect.

The community participation element of \Wollongong Futures aims to involve the community in allphases of the process.

The objectives of this initiative will be to:

. Facilitate real communiry participation,

. Promote community ownership,

. Build pubiic awareness.

€4ore 4.4onnruni\ Partieipation in Nollon3ong €'iures

NItgRg ARg N6 NIAN ?

Profile Cannnunt'ty

IION DO N€ G€f I\EW ?

Aetion/hnplenneyrtqtian Plqn

,ffi

Organisation/CoordinationThe interaction belween the Council, citizens, and al1 other key stakeholders will need to beorganised and coordinated. As it is not possible to run the visioning process with all individualsin the city, various advisory and working groups will be essential t5 ihe success of the process.

itoN ARg W€ GoltlG?

Monitoring qnd 6vqluqtian

NttERg ARg W CoiJG?Irends qnd Probqble gcertarios

Communiction and PromotionCommunication is very impofiant throughout the visioning process. A specific communication strategywill be put in place to ensure the community is educated, informed and invited to become involved.'The main aim of the \7ollongong Futures communication strategy is to engage and activate the communityon the question: 'what sort of city do you want'Wollongong to bei'

The communication strategy will ensure that:

. A widespread positive awareness is created about SToliongong Futures;

. Participation is encouraged in the project;

. Information is disseminated;

. The community is interested and involved in the exchange of ideas across the cityr

. The \Wollongong Futures communication strategy will even go further than the immediate projectactivities and seek to promote the project's broader themes of innovation and creativily, and celebrationof the city's cultural diversity.

ASore 9 Nollongong €olores 4oordinqtion 5lr'tel'tre

v

a-

;i :.',,..,,,, *f 9

,a.:!:,i:,al!:i:,:,:!:,,....i.. .,, .

NoLLor.GohE CYq @JWfo ratify t\e strategy ?ro.e9, anJ developnent

(o .oordirtqle delelopnerrt qnd review of, t\e stratejy qnd provide rezannnendqtians I qAttice

lo Cortnz;il on t\e developnnent o€ t\e vi5io^ and aetion plans (Nollongong F,*ores ),%r t\e eily.

Mana3e l\'e proiezl, coorAinfie in.Forhqtion qnJ qetivities. 6nsure t\qt irnportarrt divisiona,l igroet q(e qAAresseA.

lntegration of, Nollan3ong F,:l'tces into ot\er plans and policies. AssBt ln regeqrc\,, q^d provitioh o,F inForhqtionqnd relevqnt aonr\u^i'ty Fqailitqtion.

{g4.ttNllC.AL NoRFh'16 GRorJP

Provide lrrolejic direztion qnd ideqs to qddress inslrtd'1. €vsore organisational/ai\ Wide i99oe9 q(e

iderrtif,ied qnA qAAressed. Pravide sounding boqrd inrelqtion to viSio^ and stratqy Airection (rality

e\'ecV plan). {rr\ni.al advze Zn .ours" o.F qatian.brce qelron plan de.eloped er$tre qdtortg dalelopeAo,re ifreSrorteA into 4ounatl! plqns o,nd /or a3ena1

bt'rsiness Plqns'

4or'^tlrJNtfl ADVlSoRy 6Roup

Provide broqA bxe invalvennent i^ review ofi\e outeoneg in eqa\ of 't\e \le\ 9tq3e9 i^t\e pragrar,'. Aetively partiaipate in t\e

variotrs input/worLs\op 9es9io^s t\at develop t\evigion q^d oetion plan. Provide lirtV/Feedbo,cV tot\eir staV€kal ders 6e neig\bour\oad eannnittee

or Sroop dc).

Communication Tools'Will Include:. The logo .o Newsletters .. Special publications

Program and Timing

Jan -Jun 2002 TASKS. Profiling the community

. Trends and probable scenarios

. Internal LEP review

. Community survey

. Community participation design

. Communicationstrategy

PRODUCTS. Project outline

o Promotion material

Jul -Dec 2002 TASKS. Profiling the community

. Trends and probable scenarios

o Visioning

o Internal LEP review

. Community survey

. Communication

PRODUCTSo Communiry profile

. Community values

. Technical working group andcommunify advisory group

Jan -Jun 2003 TASKS. Visioning

o Action planning

. \Tollongong Local Plan review

. Visioning feedback

r Communication strategy update

PRODUCTS. Vision strategy framework

Newspaper articles

!fleb site and GeographicalInformation System

Public service announcements

. Editorial endorsements

. Public meetings

. Special events, etc

Jul -Dec 2003 TASKS. Action planning

. \7ollongong Local Plan review

. Vision survey

o Action planning workgroups

. Place Based Local Plan/DevelopmentControl Plan (DCP) workshops

. Communication

PRODUCTSr Action Plan

e Vision document

Jan -Dec 2004+ TASKS. Monitoring system development

. \7ollongong Local Plan review

. Place Based Local Plan/DCP workshops

. Communication

PRODUCTS. Place Based Local Plan (DCP)

CovtcbsionW'ollongong Futures is a veryimportant strategic planning process.It will help decide the future pathsthat the cofirmunity takes to create acity where they want to live.

Wollongong Futures will help the cityto take control of its own destiny.

A detailed project.programhas been compiled for the \Tollongong Futures process up to the completionof the visioning element of the process. The rest of the project has been preliminarily scheduled. Thefollowing table sets out the main tasks and general timing of the project.

I

\/WorroNcoNc

City of Innouation