The residents of Murchison recently flocked to their community centre to consult on their next Community Plan, an event promising both reflection and forward-thinking.
“Murchison has had two previous iterations of the community plan,” Murchison Community Planning Group chairman Glen Thomas said.
“The initial plan was developed in 2011, and we had a subsequent review in 2017. Now, we’ve been diligently working on an update for 2023.”
Mr Thomas said the path leading to this day was anything but rushed, as the group actively engaged with residents during the Christmas Carols in the Park event, asking them to reflect on their love for Murchison and express their visions for its future.
“The gathered thoughts were consolidated in consultation with Shepparton council,” he said.
“Council had previously facilitated a ‘visioning exercise’ with the group to assist us in aligning the plan with the community in mind.”
He said utilising the feedback from the Christmas Carols, the insights from the visioning exercise and the foundations of the 2017 Community Plan, the group crafted the revised plan.
On the day, 60 community members gathered in the community centre to hear MCP members present the draft pillars of the Community Plan and recount the journey to this pivotal moment.
Mr Thomas said the hall was neatly divided into tables, each symbolising a key pillar of the plan.
Here, locals were given the opportunity to review, provide feedback and share ideas for the proposed plan.
“By the end of the day, there were literally hundreds of feedback notes,” he said.
“This gives the MCP group an abundance of community input for the plan.”
Mr Thomas also said the group’s goal was to ensure the community’s input shaped a plan that positioned Murchison optimally for the future.
“The MCP group will continue to consult with the community as the plan detail is finalised,” Mr Thomas said.
“We’re asking the community to ‘watch this space’.
“As we progress, there’ll be ample opportunity for community involvement when sub-committees are formed to work on the individual pillars.
“It’s terrific when a small community can come together like this to have their say on shaping their future.”