South West Development Commission
Strategic priority - People and Place
To encourage more people to pedal - and enhance their wellbeing in the process, we began working to transform the Bunbury region into a more bicycle-friendly area through the creation of the Greater Bunbury Bicycle Master Plan.
The Greater Bunbury Bicycle Master Plan is an excellent example of how we are connecting people and places to create more liveable communities.
The project involves improving bicycle links between Bunbury, its suburbs and nearby towns with the intention of encouraging more people to cycle for commuter and recreational purposes.
To help achieve our vision of developing an integrated bicycle plan for the greater Bunbury area, we put together a steering group - comprising representatives from local government, Main Roads and local bike groups - to progress the proposal.
Once complete, the project is likely to encourage greater levels of cycling, leading to improvements in people's health and fitness, as well as a reduction in traffic congestion as more people take advantage of the improved bicycle path network and choose to ride instead of drive to work.
Throughout 2010/11 our team was also involved in efforts to transform Bunbury's central business district into the most pedestrian-friendly city centre in Western Australia.
Since the release of the Bunbury CBD Walkability and Wayfinding Strategy in March 2010, we have been pleased with the steps taken to improve the design of Bunbury's city centre for pedestrians and expect to see directional signage and traffic calming devices installed in 2011/12.
Our endeavours to make the region 'friendlier' to different groups in the South West community was a focus in 2010/11. In addition to working to make the region more bike and pedestrian friendly, we persisted with our efforts to make the region more age-friendly.
Building on the recommendations in the South West Active Ageing Research Project, which highlighted how the planning and delivery of infrastructure and services to senior members of the South West community could be improved, we were involved in carrying out age-friendly workshops.
Senior citizens from Nannup, Capel, Greenbushes and Bridgetown were asked to see how their towns could be improved for older people at age-friendly workshops. Information provided at the workshops will be used in future planning.
We worked to brighten the future of aged care in Harvey, teaming up with the Hocart Lodge Aged Care Centre board to assess the opportunity for expanding and upgrading the facility. Similarly, we worked to secure funding for accommodation for seniors in Walpole.
Accommodation was a theme throughout 2010/11 - but not solely in terms of developing suitable housing for the region's elderly residents. We also supported a study into the future office accommodation requirements of not-for-profit community services in the Greater Bunbury region. The report will aid the City of Bunbury in planning for future office space that will meet the demand of the city's growing not-for-profit sector.
In transforming a former mission into a place of opportunity for its former residents, we seconded an employee of Roelands Village. This employee continued to oversee the restoration of the former mission's buildings, with the view to renovating the village for cultural and tourism purposes. In addition, steps were taken to identify cultural material relating to the history of Roelands Village. This included tracing the history of past residents to ensure accurate records are available to the community.
Together with the Shire of Manjimup, we empowered residents of the Manjimup area to have a say about the future of their district though the Manjimup Futures project. The initiative gave people an opportunity to share their thoughts about how the region should develop in the years ahead and will be important for future planning.
Once again we were grateful for Royalties for Regions, which enabled us to fund a number of community projects. Past recipients have included the Bridgetown Volunteer Bushfire Support Brigade which received funding towards a vehicle and storage shed, and the South West Women's Health and Information Centre which received money for a wellness program for women.
We also assisted numerous community groups by reviewing their business plans, helping to source funding for projects, facilitating partnerships and meetings, and providing media and marketing advice and assistance.
Furthermore, we provided practical support to projects by participating on committees and boards. For example we sat on a steering committee to develop a proposal to establish a South West branch of Headspace, the national youth mental health foundation.
Quick read
Quick read
Projects in focus
South West Academy of Sport
Right to left: SWAS basketball player Cory Richardson, SWAS
chairman Don Punch, SWAS scholarship holder Shenae Peterson and
SWAS scholarship holder Ashlee Bailie, with Julius Matthys
representing SWAS sponsor Worsley Alumina.
Making it to the highest representative levels in sport is a tough journey that requires dedication, sacrifice and a lot of hard work. The journey to the top is even more challenging for regional athletes who have the added hurdle of distance to overcome.
When we worked to create the South West Academy of Sport, we did so in order to create opportunities for the region's up-and-coming athletes to reach their potential - without the added burdens associated with having to travel - or relocate - to Perth to access specialised training.
We were pleased to see in its third year of operation that the academy was not only producing State, national and international-level athletes, but had also grown to nurture the talent development of an even more diverse field of young sports men and women.
During the year in review, the academy expanded its partner sports programs from four to seven, resulting in a greater number of high performance programs in the region.
The expansion of the academy's family of programs enabled talented teenagers living in the South West to access talent development pathways in Australian Rules Football, basketball, cricket, hockey, netball, soccer and tennis in the region they call home.
In addition, the academy continued to offer its individual
scholarship program, which supports the development of young
athletes excelling in sports not covered by the academy's partner
programs.
A total of 154 athletes benefited from the academy in 2010/11, with
many athletes achieving success in the sporting arena.
Highlights of 2010/11 include basketball player Cory Richardson, who represented Australia at the 2010 FIBA U17 World Championships in Germany, being named SWAS Sports Star of the Year at the annual dinner and awards night held in December 2010.
Other notable achievements include track talent Shenae Peterson being selected to wear the green and gold at the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games, young gun Creed McTaggart representing Australia at the 2011 Quiksilver ISA World Surfing Championships, and BMX champion Lauren Reynolds racing at events around the world as part of her bid for 2012 Olympic Games selection.
We were pleased to play a role in helping young people like Cory, Shenae, Creed and Lauren along the road to success through our continued support of the South West Academy of Sport.
Aged care accommodation for Walpole
Walpole residents have worked to turn the Jarrah Glen Lifestyle
Village project into a reality.
Many elderly people find moving out of their home and into a retirement village or aged care to be trying enough without the additional worry of also having to move to a new town - away from family and friends. But that is the reality faced by people living in regional towns that do not have specialised accommodation for senior citizens.
As part of our efforts to improve quality of life in the region and build on the recommendations contained in our South West Active Ageing Strategy, we worked to address the need for seniors accommodation in Walpole.
With an ageing population and alternative accommodation options more than 100 kilometres away, the lack of specialised housing for seniors in Walpole was forcing people to leave town, and also deterring people from moving there.
To help solve this problem, we teamed up with the Walpole and Districts Seniors Accommodation group to turn the Jarrah Glen Lifestyle Village project into a reality.
The $1.82million project will see the construction of six two-bedroom, self-contained units that would provide affordable and appropriate accommodation for aged and dependant people.
To help progress the project, we developed the business case for funding. We also provided ongoing support to the Walpole and Districts Seniors Accommodation committee to help secure incorporation status, develop concept plans, and secure headworks funding.
So we were pleased when our combined efforts paid off and the project was awarded State Government funding.
On July 1 2011 it was officially announced that $1.05million from Royalties for Regions had been allocated towards the project. The grant will provide the financial aid necessary for the Walpole and Districts Seniors Accommodation group to have four units constructed.
The funding announcement, together with funding from the Shire of Manjimup's allocation of Royalties for Regions County Local Government Fund money, will allow the planned six units to be built.
People and Place - at a glance
Other ways we invested in people and place:
- Facilitated the development of the Manjimup Region Family and Domestic Violence Education and Support Group's business plan
- Worked with the Shire of Nannup to develop and support a 'health pit stop' for men, which attracted over 50 participants
- Facilitated the development of the Warren Blackwood Agricultural Society business plan
- Assisted with funding, and engaging and managing a consultant to undertake business planning for Deanmill Heritage Society
- Part of a committee reference group guiding the development of the Busselton Health Campus
- Supported the Manjimup Volunteer and Resource Centre building and enhancement project.
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