NYORA’S latest Community Plan meeting drew an impressive turnout of around 70 people despite a chilly Tuesday night, with locals keen to contribute their ideas for the town’s future.

South Gippsland Shire councillor and Nyora local Mick Felton was delighted with the enthusiastic response and willingness of people to get involved.

As with previous sessions held to build momentum towards a new Nyora Community Plan, council’s community strengthening officer Barbara Look oversaw the evening, providing expert guidance.

However, Mick reiterated his previous message that developing and subsequently managing the plan is a community responsibility, providing the chance for locals to have their say on the town’s future and guide council on their aspirations for it.

Written ideas provided by attendees now need to be collated.

Once the information is organised into a meaningful form it will be sent out to those who attended.

In the meantime, they will be emailed the existing Nyora Community Plan that was developed in 2010 and needs replacement.

Mick explained that before the new Community Plan starts to be compiled, a committee will be formed to undertake that process and oversee the plan’s future.

He envisages that committee having around nine members.

The committee is intended to fill the hole left by the disbanding of the Nyora and District Development Association.

Barbara has previously stressed the importance of having a central body representing all the town’s groups, saying it would eventually act as a custodian of the new Nyora Community Plan.

Mick anticipates the committee will be formed in approximately four to six weeks’ time, perhaps by the end of July, with the next community session set to be an opportunity for people to put up their hands to be a part of the committee.

He expects that, once formed, the committee may need to meet monthly while the Community Plan is developed, then every two to three months to discuss projects within it and make necessary updates.

Tuesday’s attendees heard from a couple of speakers who were involved in forming community plans in other South Gippsland Shire towns, with Howard Booth from Loch and Terry Waycott of Korumburra sharing their knowledge and experience.

Howard said using a shire template helped those in Loch to formulate their recently completed Community Plan.