Collie residents will be able to have their say over initiatives to improve the town after Shire of Collie councillors accepted the draft Corporate Business Plan for consultation.
At the ordinary council meeting on Tuesday, councillors endorsed the draft plan for public comment which sets out a road map for Collie over the next four years.
The four year priorities include address increasing economic development and tourism, infrastructure for a more age-friendly community, exploring potential for TAFE and university opportunities and improving transport connections in the region.
If approved, the shire will work with stakeholders to increase local employment and support small business development.
There will be a development of an adrenalin hub and nature based hub to promote tourism.
Within the hubs there will be a focus on further development of the Motorplex, Black Diamond, infrastructure to support Collie’s tracks and trails, enhancing waterways such as Lake Kepwari and looking at more camping grounds.
The plan highlights the reliance on coal power as a challenge for Collie so in the next four years the shire will investigate diversifying power generation.
Upgrading facilities such as Roche Park, Recreation Ground and Wallsend were also listed as priorities within the plan.
Being able to fund these initiatives is discussed in the plan which outlines a large contribution coming from state government funding.
However, the plan does show that in order to complete these projects the Shire would need to have rate increases kept within the 2 per cent above inflation. Public submissions are open for at least three weeks.
The council also voted on the second round of the Community Small Grants Fund at the meeting. They decided to allocate $14,818 to six out of the eight clubs that requested grants.
The Collie Race Club, Collie Festival Committee for Festiv Arty, the Collie Mountain Trail Bike Club, the Collie Horse and Pony Club, the Collie Swimming Club and Allanson Primary School will all receive $2,470 each in funding.
The Premier Patriots Hockey Club and Bunbury Bush walking Club missed out on grants.
It was raised by councillors that if they gave money to the Hockey Club then other sporting clubs, like football, may ask for funding in the future.
