Community Development

Council recognises that the future prosperity of the Northern Midlands depends largely on the community's ability to meet its own needs by working cooperatively with and across communities and organisations.  Council views its role as one of developing partnerships and facilitating cooperation between governments, business and the community on a diverse range of issues.

Council demonstrated its commitment to community and economic development in the Northern Midlands by undertaking an organisational restructure in 2001 to create an Economic and Community Development Unit. This Unit is responsible for developing and managing programs and projects that promote local economic and social sustainability, and community well-being. A key role of the Unit is the securing of external funding to resource projects.

Following are examples of the community development activities undertaken by the unit since its inception:
Development of the Longford Community Safety Plan (winner of the Tasmanian Crime Prevention and Community Safety Award 2002);

• Securing funding in 2003 through AusIndustry to establish the Small Business Central Tasmania service which provides a free advisory, referral and support service to small business owners and operators;
• Securing a University of Tasmania grant to establish the Northern Midlands Rural Health Teaching Site at Campbell Town;
• Securing Tasmanian Community Fund and Regional Partnerships funds to undertake the 'Troutification of Cressy' - winner of the National Innovation Award for Local Government 2005;
• Securing funding through the Australian Tourism Development Program to enable the development of an Interpretation Strategy for Tasmania's Heritage Highway Region;
• Securing a Tasmanian Community Fund grant to enable the development of an early intervention program in Campbell Town: "Be OK (Best Outcomes for Kids");
• Securing Australian Government grants to enable the upgrading of the facilities, equipment and playgrounds for the Northern Midlands Child Care Service;
• Securing Department of Sport and Recreation funding to upgrade the fitness equipment at the Northern Midlands Community Sports Centre;
• Securing Regional Partnership and Tasmanian Community Fund grants to undertake the rejuvenation of the riverbank project at Campbell Town;
• Securing an Arts Tasmania grant to resource "Strung Out"; a feature event on the 2007 Ten Days on the Island calendar.

For further information on community development in the Northern Midlands, contact Council's Manager Economic and Community Development, Lorraine Green, on ph (03) 63 977 315  or email lorraine.green@northmidlands.tas.gov.au