"The people of Eurobodalla spoke and we listened," says shire Mayor Mathew Hatcher after councillors voted to put Eurobodalla's draft Community Strategic Plan up for public comment.
"The CSP presents an inspiring roadmap up to 2042, and informs Council's decision making and agenda setting for long-term planning of our projects, infrastructure and services."
Early last year, Council staff collected feedback from residents, businesses and community groups in-person and online, with 2,700 people (6.7 percent of the population) sharing their thoughts.
"Participation was impressive, with a broad range of backgrounds and life experiences. This means Council has high confidence the draft CSP really reflects the community's hopes for the future and understands the challenges that concern them most," Mayor Hatcher says. The draft CSP identifies the natural environment, relaxed lifestyle, peace and quiet, clement weather, and supportive community as the strengths that make Eurobodalla a great place to live. The highest-ranking challenges are housing affordability and availability, improvements to infrastructure, better health services, and balancing development with the needs of people and the environment.
Also up for public comment are the draft Community Engagement Strategy and the draft Community Participation Plan 2025-29.
"The draft Engagement Strategy shows how Council should connect with community to shape big decisions while the draft Participation Plan is a framework for meaningful participation in planning decisions. The three documents work together to empower the community through Council's decision-making processes," says Mayor Hatcher.
The draft documents are on public exhibition until Sunday 9 February on Council's website or as hard copy from the Moruya administration building and the Batemans Bay, Moruya and Narooma libraries.
