THE Port Stephens Council Community Strategic Plan 2022 to 2032 has been released.

A Community Strategic Plan is the highest-level strategic plan that a council prepares on behalf of the community.

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The plan addressed social, economic, environmental and governance facts through four interconnected focus areas, Our Community, Our Place, Our Environment and Our Council, and is based on social justice principles of equity, access participation and rights.

The purpose of the plan is to identify the community’s main priorities and aspirations over the next ten years, support community and stakeholders to play an active role in shaping their future, work with other governments and agencies to achieve community priorities, outline Council’s roles in delivering these priorities and assigning resources to support delivery while balancing affordability and finally, maintain accountability and transparency in reporting on progress.

Mayor Ryan Palmer says that the plan has been formed through the newly elected Councillors consultation with the community.

“With a new team of Councillors on board who’ve listened to what the community wants most, we’re excited to have reviewed the Community’s Strategic Plan for the next ten years.

“We recognise that Council plays a custodial role in collating the plan on behalf of the community.

“Together with several partners, we’re here to make a difference in the community now and into the future.

“We’re pleased to hear that the community’s vision of a Great lifestyle in a treasured environment still rings true – but with the diversity of our community, this vision means different things to different people,” Mayor Palmer said.

The plan has been developed in collaboration with the community after more than eighteen months of integrated engagement– totalling nearly 7000 interactions over this time.

“Refinements to the plan are founded on our first ever Liveability Index Survey carried out in September 2020 where over 3700 community members had their say on what they valued most and how they felt their place was performing.

“We then dove deeper through workshops, online surveys, photo competitions and more – to check in on community priorities.

“Community priorities of wellbeing, sustainable development, maintenance of roads and open spaces, pathway connections, resilience in the wake of natural disasters, climate change, protection of the natural environment, stronger community engagement, to name a few, have been woven into the Community Strategic Plan,” Mayor Palmer said.

The plan can be accessed in full on the Port Stephens Council website at https://www.portstephens.nsw.gov.au/council/our-performance2/integrated-plans.

By Tara CAMPBELL