Wollongong 2022 Community Strategic Plan
The Community Strategic Plan is a 10 year plan that will identify the community’s main priorities and aspirations for Wollongong as well as strategies for achieving these goals. The Plan will guide the work of Council for the next 10 years.
Lord Mayor, Councillor Gordon Bradbery OAM said when opening the Wollongong Community Summit in October we are all here to share our dream as we embark on our journey for Wollongong 2022.
Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery OAM
You can have your say on the draft vision and goals that were developed at the Wollongong Community Summit by completing the online survey:
The journey so far has included…
Council staff started phase one of the Community Strategic Plan for IPR in late 2010, researching and planning the long road ahead and the various ways that we could involve our diverse community in this exciting planning process.
In June 2011, Council held the Draw Write Snap Share promotion to encourage all members of the community to tell Council in a creative way what they love most about Wollongong.
150 submissions from 108 people were made to the Draw Write Snap Share promotion. Many entries said that they loved Wollongong because of its natural beauty and wildlife.
Council officers led Community Conversations at the Wollongong Produce Markets on the 9th of September, the Warrawong markets on the 10th of September, Spring into Corrimal on the 11th of September, Dapto Markets on the 18th of September and the Children's Festival on the 1st of October. These conversations encouraged the community to speak with Council and share their ideas for the direction of our city.
Council staff also engaged students who attend primary school, high school, Tafe, University and who are involved in the Wollongong Youth Centre to learn the visions of our City’s future leaders. You can view videos produced by local young people on Council's YouTube channel.
Three Town Hall Talks were an opportunity for community members to listen to the suggestions of industry experts and ask them questions about where they believe Wollongong should aim to be by 2022.
On September 29, Professor Ed Blakely led the discussion on our economy and proposed that Wollongong needs an industry or event that puts us on the world map. Professor Blakely suggested that we could be the next Silicone Valley or have New South Wales’ second largest airport, the possiblities are endless.
Professor Ed Blakely (part 1 of 2).mp3
Professor Ed Blakely (part 2 of 2).mp3
The following Tuesday, Environmental expert Dr Karl Kruszelnicki led a talk on the future of the environment in Wollongong, making suggestions that the region could adopt wind energy through the creation of a wind turbine farm or perhaps a solar energy plant. Should we move away from the Steel City to the Wind City?
Dr Karl Kruszelnicki - Wollongong 2022 Town Hall Talks
How do you engage the disengaged and ensure the community exercises their voices when it comes to local government planning? Engagement consultant Max Hardy and University of Wollongong Lecturer, Dr Glenn Mitchell suggest you familiarise yourself with the Local Government Planning Act and other local government policies. Perhaps a citizens jury like Brisbane City Council’s “Your City, Your Say” could represent the voices and visions of our diverse community.
Dr Glenn Mitchell - Wollongong 2022 Town Hall Talks
Max Hardy - Wollongong 2022 Town Hall Talks
With different experiences, backgrounds and visions almost 200 community members registered for our Community Summit on the 29 and 30 October to create a draft vision for our City’s future. Participants held various discussions to establish the draft vision and community goals for the next ten years.
The draft vision below was created by the visioning work group at the Community Summit.
“From the mountains to the sea, we value and protect our natural environment and will be leaders in building an educated, creative and connected community.”
The Community Summit was successful in bringing community, stakeholders and Councillors together to share and develop a vision for our City’s future. One participant said that “(The Community Summit) was a great opportunity to reach an insight into the development in our community.” Another participant said that their highlight of the weekend was “Talking with Councillors, Council employees and other passionate community minded people.”
Vox Pops - Wollongong 2022 Community Summit
David Farmer - Wollongong 2022 Town Hall Talks
Refining Workshops
Following the Community Summit, two refining workshops were held in November with representatives from the Community Summit participants, agencies, stakeholders, Councillors, Council Senior Managers, Neighbourhood Forum Convenors and representatives from Council's various specialist Reference Groups and peak bodies. The two workshops focussed on the data collated from the Summit and surveys around goals, definitions, objectives and strategies.
Day 1 explored the seven draft goals that came out of the Community Summit and documented feedback as to what the goals mean and how well they aligned with the Wollongong 2022 vision.
On day 2 around 50 participants again focussed on refining the set of goals, building out objectives and beginning a conversation around strategies to meet the goals and objectives.
Engagement and consultation with the community will continue, with the community invited to comment on the draft plans before they are presented to Council in mid 2012 for endorsement.
Further updates on Wollongong 2022 will be added to our website in the coming months, so check back to this page regularly.
Find us on Facebook at Wollongong 2022 or follow Council's Twitter page to keep up to date on our consultation activities for the Wollongong 2022 Community Strategic Plan.
