Draft Strategic Plan 2024 - 2034

The District Council of Grant’s future looks welcoming and prosperous as the long-term strategic direction has been approved.

At last night’s Council Meeting, the final Strategic Plan for 2024 to 2034 was presented incorporating revisions based off community feedback received during community consultation in June and July 2024. The final Plan was formally endorsed as the primary visioning document setting out the aspirations, goals and plans to guide Council in the coming years.

District Council of Grant Mayor Kylie Boston said she is excited to present the completed Plan demonstrating Council’s commitment to deliver quality services while working together with our communities.

"This Plan recognises the current strengths and challenges of our community but looks to the future so we can strive to achieve community aspirations,” Mayor Boston said.

“Feedback received during our community consultation period indicated that a majority of the survey participants expressed support for our goals meaning we are on the right track to achieving an environment where we can all live, work and play,”

“I would like to thank all those in our community who contributed through the engagement process which supported us in the creation of our shared goals and aims.”

Across multiple workshops over the last 12 months, Council worked closely with a Citizen’s Jury, Elected Members and Council to shape the Strategic Plan. The Citizen’s Jury included with a passion and diversity of lived experiences in our district from a variety of community groups, local businesses and key industries.

Five goals were developed through the workshops and refined during further community consultation which represent the district’s collective vision for the next 4-10 years:

• Community - A connected, inclusive, resilient and engaged community;
• Economy - A growing and vibrant economy, optimising our diverse primary industries and unique natural assets’
• Environment - A sustainable district that values the natural qualities and heritage that underpin our health, livability and economy;
• Infrastructure - Reliable and contemporary infrastructure that meets the needs of our community, industry and visitors; and
• Council - A strategic and financially sustainable Council that values its people and delivers quality services.

District Council of Grant Chief Executive Officer Darryl Whicker said each goal also incorporates specific short-term and long-term projects and advocacy focus areas.

“Strategic planning provides Council with an opportunity to fulfil our purpose to deliver on the aspirations and expectations of each community,” Mr Whicker said.

“This Plan, endorsed by Council, provides measurable outcomes for staff to pursue for the betterment of our community,”

Key projects for Council to achieve in the coming years include, but are not limited to:

• developing a contemporary Community Development Plan to support the community to thrive;
• delivering a camping initiative that provides infrastructure and systems for camping on Council land to boost tourism while protecting our natural assets;
• investigating the feasibility of providing additional green waste services;
• developing a plan that identifies cycling and walking network improvements to support community and tourist use; and
• delivering an update to Council’s website and exploring digital transactions or applications to improve communication and customer service.

“I am confident that the activities, programs, projects and service standards to be delivered during the Strategic Plan period are achievable and will contribute positively to our vision to help people live their best lives.”

The District Council of Grant will now commence undertaking, facilitating and advocating for projects for the community, and report progress each year in the Annual Business Plan and Budget.

Community members are encouraged to read the complete Strategic Plan 2024-2034, or the accessible version, on Council’s website at www.dcgrant.sa.gov.au/council/policies-by-laws-and-documents/strategiesplans.

Do you agree that the District Council of Grant should be a connected, inclusive, resilient and engaged community?

The District Council of Grant is asking you to have your say on the proposed collective vision for the district following its creation involving community representatives over the past 10 months.

At the June Council Meeting, a Draft Strategic Plan for 2024 to 2034 was presented detailing future goals and proposed projects for Council to undertake, facilitate or advocate for over the next 4-10 years.

District Council of Grant Mayor Kylie Boston said she is excited to present the long-term Draft Strategic Plan demonstrating Council’s commitment to deliver quality services while working together with our communities.

“We want to create an environment where we can all live, work and play. We feel that the five goals developed in this Draft Strategic Plan allow us to achieve this thanks to input from our Citizen’s Jury members,” Mayor Boston said.

The District Council of Grant formed a Citizen’s Jury in September 2023, with representatives from local community groups, businesses and key industries, to help Elected Members and Council staff review previous long-term goals and strategies, and form this new Draft Strategic Plan.

“Our Citizen’s Jury have put in a huge amount of work and passion to help create this shared vision which we are really proud of and thank all those involved. Council is committed to being real and listening to our community so we want to make sure everyone is brought along this planning process.”

Following endorsement at the recent Council Meeting, the Draft Strategic Plan for 2024 to 2034 is now open for broader community consultation.

District Council of Grant Chief Executive Officer Darryl Whicker said a prosperous community can be achieved with Council’s ongoing sustainable financial management.

“We have proven that the future of our district will be sustainable, and I am therefore confident that we will deliver a high standard of projects and services through our Strategic Plan. The Draft Strategic Plan presented to our community identifies our ‘why’, our goals, advocacy and ambition driving Council’s decision making when allocating resources and prioritising short and long term initiatives,” Mr Whicker said

“Now we want to hear from our broader community to make sure that our focus areas meet our communities expectations to support a positive future.”

Community members are encouraged to have their say on the Draft Strategic Plan 2024-2034 via Council’s online community engagement platform Your Say DCG at yoursaydcg.com.au.

A series of face-to-face or online Drop-In Sessions will be held during the consultation period to learn more about the proposed goals and speak with Council representatives. These will be held on:

Thursday 11 July 2024

• 5:30pm to 7:00pm
• Port MacDonnell Community Complex, 5-7 Charles Street, Port MacDonnell

Tuesday 16 July 2024

• 5:30pm to 7:00pm
• Mount Gambier Regional Airport, Airport Road, Wandilo

Monday 22 July 2024

• 1:00pm to 2:00pm
• Online via Microsoft Teams – Register to attend here

The Draft Plan can be also reviewed at Council’s Principal Office at 324 Commercial Street West, Mount Gambier and Port MacDonnell Community Complex at 5-7 Charles Street, Port MacDonnell.

Written feedback will be accepted until 5:00pm Wednesday 24 July 2024.

At the Ordinary Council Meeting held on Monday 17 June 2024, Council resolved to:

1. Receive and note Council report District Council of Grant Strategic Plan 2024 - 2034 as presented on 17 June 2024.

2. Endorse the draft Strategic Plan 2024-2034 as presented for community consultation in accordance with the proposed consultation plan and section 122(6) of the Local Government Act 1999.

The District Council of Grant has begun engaging with locals to review its long-term goals and strategies for the district detailed within the Strategic Management Plan.

Representatives from a variety of community groups, local businesses and key industries formed a Citizen’s Jury to discuss how the district has changed and future opportunities to explore at a workshop facilitated by Gilham Strategy & Planning.

Mayor Kylie Boston said the Strategic Management Plan is Council’s core document which guides planning and decision-making processes.

“It’s important to understand our community’s long-term vision and expectations to ensure we deliver relevant actions to support our districts growth and success. We want to achieve a shared community vision with input from those with a passion and lived experience in our area,”

Chief Executive Officer Darryl Whicker said Council’s engagement format will ensure perspectives from a wide cross section of the community are heard.

“The citizen’s jury is made up of a diverse range of people across our district comprising disability support, not-for-profits, business leaders, partner agencies and community groups. Corresponding workshops with Council’s staff leadership team and Elected Members were also held to ensure that we are gathering information from all perspectives.”

Councils are required to review their Strategic Management Plan within two years of a local government election under the Local Government Act 1999.

The District Council of Grant’s current Strategic Management Plan 2020-2030 can be viewed via online at www.dcgrant.sa.gov.au/council/policies,-by-laws-and-documents/strategiesplans.

“We are excited to continue engaging with our community in the new year and encourage everyone to share their thoughts and ideas on the future of the District Council of Grant.” Mayor Boston said.

The wider District Council of Grant community will have an opportunity to have their say and inform the Strategic Management Plan in early 2024. Interested residents, workers, business and visitors are encouraged to register to stay up to date with project announcements on Your Say DCG.