Port Stephens Draft Council Plan 2008 - 2012

In 2007 Council adopted the Port Stephens Economic Development Plan and in this draft Plan it is proposed that business rate payers in the LGA have a variation to their rates to fund implementing this strategy. Goal 5 of the draft Plan sets out what will be done in the next 4 years. Please comment. 

Council aims to preserve and strengthen the fabric of its community, building on its strengths. The draft Plan’s Goals 1 – 4 provide strategies and objectives in the areas of lifestyle, children & young people, safety and cultural life across the LGA. Please comment on these initiatives. 

The draft Plan (Goals 6 and 7) aims to protect the environment and sustain it through a series of initiatives around protecting waterways, enhancing biodiversity and managing waste. Please comment on these initiatives. 

As a young person in the community, I believe Port stephens Council(PSC) is not supplying suitable, appropriate and safe facilities that are youth orientated. These include: Skateparks, Playgrounds, Venues to enjoy music performances.
What's your opinion? 

There are 11 goals aimed at continuously improving the way we do business across all our operations using the Business Excellence Framework. The draft Plan also contains the budget details, and statutory statements required to be included by the State Government. Asset maintenance is a major focus in this draft Plan (Goal 16). Please comment. 

Council has not provided information to the community generally on how they will actually go about consulting with the community via the Communithy Engagement Panel and Residents' Panel. The timeframes in the Management Plan display gaps when the community does not have a suitable forum (other than this website) at which to raise concerns about the myriad of plans currently up for adoption. 

This section proposes the development of asset management plans including the consolidation of infrastructure that is in close proximity to other like assets. For example, if one public amenity (eg toilet) is considered under Council criteria to be too close to another, the facility will be "consolidated" (....closed is another term!) Does the community think this is such a good idea in an area catering for huge fluctuations due to tourism and where the permanent population is also increasing for both young and old. 

Objective 16.4.2 proposes "investigate the feasibility of developer agreements for Port Stephens..." Does this have repercussions for the community when they would be effectively shut out of consultations about "developer agreements" due to "Commercial in Confidence" aspects to proposals. Even Councillors could be kept in the dark until it is all too late.