- Published:
- Wednesday 5 October 2016
Wimmera Southern Mallee community members will come together tonight in Horsham to discuss and debate the region’s top priorities at the Andrews Labor Government’s first Regional Assembly.
The Regional Assembly is the next step in the Wimmera Southern Mallee Regional Partnership’s engagement with community, industry and government – providing an opportunity for the region to come together and flesh out ideas about what the region needs most.
In the lead up to the Assembly, the Wimmera Southern Mallee Partnership posed questions to the region through its new website – http://engage.regions.vic.gov.au – which garnered hundreds of ideas.
People identified a stronger economy with more local jobs as the top priority for the region, with better roads and transport networks, more opportunities for education and training, increased tourism and improved telecommunications also rating highly.
Members of the community and industry will join local council and government representatives at the Assembly for a discussion about the region’s most pressing priorities and to set out a roadmap on how to achieve them.
The Assembly will be an annual event that plays a key role in the new regional governance model, and allows each Regional Partnership to consult on regional priorities before directing them to the heart of government.
Following the Assembly, a summary of the outcomes, ideas and recommendations will be published online, and Regional Partnership Chair David Jochinke will brief the Rural and Regional Ministerial Committee on priorities for the region.
Each of Victoria’s nine Regional Partnerships will hold an Assembly before the end of the year. Regional Victorians are encouraged to have their say about what matters to them at www.engage.regions.vic.gov.au.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional Development Jaala Pulford
“The future of Wimmera and Southern Mallee needs and deserves a robust conversation that clearly sets the roadmap for growth. Growing our tourism, education and employment opportunities are key to achieving this.”
“We’re here to listen and we want to build on the good work that’s already been done. This is a real chance for the region to deliver their ideas straight into the heart of Andrews Labor Government decision making.”
Quote attributable to Wimmera Southern Mallee Partnership Chair David Jochinke
“The partnership is all about advocating priorities and assisting with unlocking the potential for the Wimmera Southern Mallee region – and it’s the next step in capturing ideas and presenting them directly to government.”