Community Planning in Yarra Ranges

What is community planning?

Community planning enables people to create a shared vision and objectives for their local community. It helps to establish what community members like about their township or district, what they want to change, and what they would like to introduce. Importantly, the planning and resulting actions are conducted by the community for the community, with Yarra Ranges Council supporting the process.

Community planning:

  • is positive and empowering
  • connects communities together
  • strengthens existing relationships, and
  • establishes new partnerships.

The process is driven by community members, who decide when to start, how to proceed, who should be involved, what objectives will be attempted, and what the priorities for action will be. In this way the outcomes are owned by the community.

Community members will learn much about their community through the process. Informed communities are best at identifying and resolving local issues.

Yarra Ranges Council can provide mentoring, support, advice, encouragement, information, training and seed funding along the way.

How does it work?

Community planning can involve a whole range of activities, get-togethers, events, and training opportunities, that bring together current and emerging community leaders, and community members who want to contribute. It will empower small groups of volunteers to do things which make a positive difference to their community.

All communities have a huge range of skills and assets, and one of the first tasks of the community planning process is to identify the human, physical, economic, social and environmental assets and strengths of their community. Participants will learn more about the human assets, including things like experience, knowledge, and contacts. They will also learn more about the social issues that exist in their community, and how community resources can be used to tackle these issues, in partnership with local organisations, businesses and Council.

The output of this process is a document called a ‘Community Plan’, which includes a shared vision that summarises the themes and priorities that have emerged, and outlines the actions and activities that community members want to implement.

The more members of the community who have a say in the process, the more likely it is that the Community Plan will represent the community’s aspirations, needs and wants. A comprehensive Community Plan will be respected by the general community, businesses, organisations and governments alike.

The key to a successful community planning process is to engage as many people as possible in both the planning process and the projects that come out of the Plan. There are many ways to get people involved. They will learn from other communities who have been through the same process, and who are willing to share their ideas. They will also be able to report benefits to the individuals involved, such as increased self-confidence, new skills, and new friendships.

What happens?

Yarra Ranges Council’s Community Development Officers conduct regular regional workshops to introduce community planning. These workshops are open to all.

Typically, a group of community members will start and then lead the process, with the support of a Community Development Officer. This group will comprise energetic, passionate, and enthusiastic people who are willing to talk to their neighbours, colleagues and friends, and start to map out their township’s assets and strengths. This group will learn more about their community, and will find others who are able to help out and even lead community projects. They will learn how to work well as a team, and they will achieve great outcomes for their community.

There are many ways to do this. Below is an example of a community planning process:

  1. Formation
  • Form a small steering group (which may be based on an existing group)
  • Request assistance from Council’s community development team
  • Inform other key people about community planning
  • Encourage people to form a planning group
  1. Information
  • Planning group meets regularly
  • Consider group governance options
  • Gather information about the community
  • Learn more about the community from others (such as government officials)
  1. Involvement
  • Talk with the community in different ways
  • Develop themes from the data and information gathered
  1. Presentation
  • Consider forming a governance structure for the group
  • Create a vision statement
  • Design projects based on themes
  • Decide which projects are short, medium and long term
  • Write a draft plan and distribute widely for comment
  • Finalise the plan
  • Present plan to Council and to the community
  1. Implementation
  • Implement the plan (e.g. seek funding, develop projects, advocate)
  • Review the plan regularly

What are the outcomes?

In summary, community planning is done by the community, for the community. It aims to develop meaningful, valued and sustainable initiatives by:

  • creating a shared vision
  • building on the community’s strengths and assets
  • clarifying aspirations
  • nurturing community leadership
  • enhancing community inclusion and connectedness, and
  • strengthening relationships between neighbours, community groups, businesses, organisations and governments.

What is the value to the community as a whole?

This is what community members have said about their experiences with community planning:

“The discussion around the community plan has unearthed many of the next generation (who) realise that for the town to change we must look forward not backward.” (Richard, Monbulk)

“The community plan has provided us with a working document, and given us direction as a community, to work on projects that we know are widely needed and wanted … it has been the perfect tool to ensure we have a good snapshot of the community’s voice.” (Aimee, Monbulk)

“There are quite a lot of people out there in the community that would like to see things happening in their community, but don’t know how to voice themselves or can’t commit to anything, for various reasons. Community planning might get these people out of their homes and have them participate.” (Kate, Millgrove)

“I look at community planning as ‘community assertiveness’. (Morris, Coldstream)

What do people say about their personal experiences?

“I have found a renewed pride and hope for our little town. I found an exchange of great ideas that I had not even considered, as well as connecting to key people that I already knew, but hadn’t spoken to in a very long time and certainly not about plans or issues in our community.” (Richard, Monbulk)

“Working with others stimulates and empowers individuals to be inspired to push for something they see as important to/for their community, that on their own they would not have attempted.” (Sue, Mt Evelyn)

“You get a feel of what the community would like to see happening in the township. It might be something that you as an individual hadn’t thought of. It gives you a sense of ownership of the plan.” (Kate, Millgrove)

What is the role of the planning group?

  • lead the planning process
  • motivate community groups and members to get involved
  • meet on a regular basis
  • seek expert advice when required
  • consult with a broad cross-section of the community
  • work together respectfully and constructively
  • be open-minded to new ideas
  • understand and drive the community’s vision, and
  • influence decision-makers.

What is the role of Yarra Ranges Council?

Council’s Community Development Team can mentor and support the planning group to work through the community planning process. Council has experience assisting nine communities to develop plans since 2012, and hey will assist the community planning group to the extent they need.

Council has developed resources to assist community planning groups, such as information sheets and templates. Council can provide groups with seed funding to help groups put on events and other activities during the community planning process, and they can provide expert training as required.

Council will allocate a Community Development Officer to work with the community. The officer will:

  • connect the group to people experienced in community planning
  • support and enhance the group’s initiatives and partnerships
  • support the group to access training, funding and resources, and
  • be a connector to the right people at Council and elsewhere.

Enquiries:

Community Development Team, Yarra Ranges Council, Ph 1300 368 333.

DRAFT Version 8 Dec2017