Community invited to comment on ambitious shared vision for the future
Published on 20 April 2022
Singleton will be a liveable, sustainable and resilient local government area with all the benefits of city conveniences while maintaining a rural heartbeat in 2032 under an ambitious long-term vision developed with the community.
Singleton Council engaged with more than 2,000 people during the development of the draft Community Strategic Plan, Create Singleton 2032 – the highest level of strategic planning undertaken by local government.
Jason Linnane, Singleton Council’s General Manager said the people of Singleton had a defined view of what the area should look now and into the future, and, based on extensive consultation with the community over the last 12 months, the draft plan gave Council a clear pathway to how that can and will be achieved.
“Create Singleton 2032 is an important document because it is the vision set by our community for the Singleton they want in the next 10 years, and the guide for all of Council’s operations to deliver a Singleton Local Government Area that is a better place to invest, live, work and play,” he said.
“From more than 2,000 interactions in 2021, we now know that our community want a Singleton that is modern and connected, with all the state-of-the-art facilities and conveniences of cosmopolitan living but without sacrificing the small town feel that makes our towns and villages the special places they are to live.
"The objective and strategies contained within this plan enable us to celebrate our unique local government area, protect our natural assets, optimise opportunities, build resilience, champion inclusion and encourage innovation and creativity.”
The draft plan’s five key pillars are: Our People, Our Places, Our Environment, Our Economy and Our Leadership – each of which have been expanded to include a range of objectives and strategies and are underpinned by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Mr Linnane said the delivery of Create Singleton 2032 would require shared decision-making and collaborative partnerships with government agencies, non-government organisations, business and the local community.
"The next decade is set to be an exciting and rewarding time for all of us in Singleton as we focus on fulfilling the needs of our community now, as well as look forward to ensure Singleton’s ongoing vitality and importance to NSW,” he said.
“Create Singleton 2032 puts Council on the front foot – we’re on the precipice of significant global change that will have unavoidable impacts for our local community and economy including the impact of COVID, climate change and of course the future of coal and energy production.
“While many of those decisions will be made far beyond the local level, this plan represents how we’re responding to the challenges with actions we can take now, together, to drive our community forward and ensure prosperity for generations to come.”
The draft Community Strategic Plan, four-year Delivery Plan, 2022/2023 Operational Plan + budget, and Resourcing Strategy will be on public exhibition from Wednesday 20 April to 18 May 2022.
You can download the documents on Council’s website at www.singleton.nsw.gov.au/publicexhibition or view a hard copy at Council’s Administration Building, Singleton Visitor Information Centre or Singleton Library. Submissions may be made in writing to the General Manager via post to PO Box 314 Singleton NSW 2330 or email council@singleton.nsw.gov.au
A Community Strategic Plan is required to be prepared every four years and must be adopted by June 30 of the year following a local government election.
ENDS