What's happening in Wooragee?

Consultations took place in Wooragee throughout August and September 2011. The Community Strengthening Team has met with businesses, individuals, and community groups to find out the unique strengths of Wooragee, and to gather project ideas for the Wooragee Community Plan.

A public meeting to prioritise the ideas put forward by the community was held on Tuesday October 25, and several passionate community members were involved. They decided on the following priorities:

• Purchase the 5 acres beside the Centenary Hall for future community use
• Improve mobile phone reception in the valley
• Establish a permanent 80km/hr zone in front of school strip
• Incorporate fire management into roadside management

A Community Plan was drafted in late 2011, featuring the above priorities and other data gathered throughout the process, and was distributed amongst the community for comment. Following presentation to Indigo Shire councillors, the draft was presented back to the community, and adopted at a Community Forum held on May 8.

The Wooragee Communty Plan can be viewed here

Work on the priority projects has begun, and progress has been made on all top four priorities. One working party has been established to oversee all projects, and this group will continue to work with the Project Officers to progress the projects.

Purchase the 5 acres beside the Centenary Hall for future community use

Establish a permanent 80km/hr zone in front of school strip

The Wooragee Hall Committee have agreed to prepare a case for both of the above projects and pursue them with a view presenting to Council and VicRoads in the near future.

Improve mobile phone reception in the valley

Meetings have been held with Telstra on this matter and are ongoing to understand where this project sits with Telstra's plans and other detail such as estimated cost and obligations to set up early warning SMS systems under the Black Saturday Bushfire Royal Commission

Incorporate fire management into roadside management

Concern has been expressed regarding the number of overhanging tree limbs on many of the community unsealed lanes/roads and also the number of small trees - such as wattles - that are growing so close the side of the road in these areas. These works have been identified and will be undertaken this fire season.

For further details on this Plan, please contact Scott Landells via email slandells@indigoshire.vic.gov.au or local call 1300 365 003.