Meeniyan Community Plan launched

MEENIYAN locals, South Gippsland Shire councillors and staff, and Member for Gippsland South Danny O’Brien, came together on Wednesday evening to celebrate the launch of the Meeniyan Community Plan.

While Meeniyan Progress Association volunteers were instrumental in getting the plan together, the broader community played a key role with many people contributing their ideas on what they wanted to see happen in the town.

Once practical ideas were collated, they were categorised and put to a vote, with members of the public prioritising which were most important to them.

There is no danger of the newly launched Meeniyan Community Plan being left to gather dust, with Meeniyan Progress Association president Richard Sutterby outlining the fact efforts are already underway to achieve many of the community aspirations in the plan.

Major aspirations highlighted in the Traffic and Roads category are the establishment of a roundabout at Moos, angle parking in the centre, and a pedestrian crossing.

“We’ve written to and started lobbying Regional Roads Victoria on those issues,” Richard said.

Toilets near the bus stop and community garden is the top priority outlined in the Infrastructure category.

“We’ve already approached the CFA about their old building,” Richard said.

Sealing the road around Meeniyan Recreation Reserve attracted a lot of votes in the Sport and Recreation category.

Within the Tourism and Economic Development category, key aspirations include murals at the supermarket and bakery, with lobbying of government and council already underway to secure grants.

Action is also taking place regarding the called-for kindergarten upgrade contained in the plan’s Environment and Public Amenity category, with inspections of the site set to occur. 

Councillor Jenni Keerie launched the Meeniyan Community Plan, with mayor Nathan Hersey running late after helping deliver a calf.

A common theme among the speakers was the importance of a current community plan when striving to win council and government support to achieve local aspirations.

As a member of the State opposition, Danny O’Brien spoke of the value of a community plan in terms of his advocacy efforts.

“When a community comes together and says these are the things we want, it’s so much easier for us to push for them,” he said.

Mayor Hersey soon arrived, describing the new Meeniyan Plan as “community led”.

That is a sentiment shared by Barbara Look, council’s now retired community strengthening officer, who helped guide community sessions.

“The work of the Meeniyan Progress Association has been incredible,” Barbara said.

Long-term member of the Association Avril van Wamel has been part of the Meeniyan community since 1980 and is delighted at how locals have come together to achieve progress.

“There’s been a lot of thought, a lot of consultation with the community and we’ve had good community support,” Avril noted.

The previous Meeniyan Community Plan, while commendable in its accomplishments, was past its useful lifespan.