Climate and renewables top Shire’s decade plan

Preparation for climate change and protecting the environment top the list of potential challenges the Lower South West faces as the Manjimup Shire endorses an outlook for the next decade. The strategic community plan, which outlines the direction of the organisation until 2031, was unanimously voted into action at the council’s ordinary meeting in Northcliffe on June 17. The plan has five focus areas for the next 10 years — environment, prosperity, community wellbeing, improvement of infrastructure and role of local government. Environmental goals include moving towards more renewable energy sources and protecting natural waterways and forests. Population growth, developing new industries and increasing education and training opportunities are a part of the prosperity pillar of the community plan. The community targets include crime prevention, developing greater access to public transport and highlighting art and culture. Infrastructure goals aim at maintaining and improving roads and footpaths while also focusing on protection of heritage sites. In the local government component, the Shire hopes to increase community consultation with Shire plans and improve community asset planning. Shire president Paul Omodei said the community input helped the Shire formulate the plan but he would like to see greater involvement in future plans put forward. “We go to great lengths to make sure the community is engaged, I have a concern that some of the business sector doesn’t get involved enough in the workshops that we conduct,” he said. “Certainly with the community strategic plan we had workshops in every town and I attended the majority of those and they were reasonably well attended but I would like to see a stronger community engagement.” Cr Omodei said the Shire was doing its bit in addressing the pressing issue of climate change although it was a broader issue which needed State and Federal Government attention. “My view is that climate change is a broader issue that really should be addressed by the State and Commonwealth Government,” he said. “But there is a lot that we can do locally and if you have a look at what the Shire of Manjimup has done when it comes to renewable energy and a whole range of other things, we’ve been at the forefront of that.”