Residents invited to have their say on future of pools and showgrounds

Published on 15 March 2023

Western Downs locals are invited to offer feedback on the draft vision for the region’s much-loved aquatic facilities and showgrounds, with Council set to tour the region hosting community engagement sessions later this month as part of the development of the new Aquatic Facilities Strategy and Showgrounds Strategy.

Following initial consultation with key stakeholders and community members, Western Downs Regional Council is moving into the second phase of developing two separate strategies which will help guide future development, management, maintenance, and renewal of aquatic facilities and showgrounds right across the region.

Councillor Megan James, Council Spokesperson for Strategic Communications and Council Facilities, said the next phase of engagement would provide the community with an opportunity to see how the strategies are developing and provide feedback to guide further decisions.

"Late last year, the community was invited to participate in our initial round of engagement which provided Council with valuable insight into how our locals currently use these facilities and what their vision is," Cr James said.

"The team has reviewed the first round of community input as well as undertaken extensive industry research into what's happening around Australia and around the world, to come up with draft vision statements which set the tone and direction for the development of the new strategies.

"To ensure the community is given every opportunity to have their say on the creation of these strategies, Council has arranged a second round of community engagement to seek feedback on the draft vision statement, key elements of each strategy, and the potential actions following the strategy's adoption.

“The goal of this engagement is to communicate the initial consultation and research findings and identify future directions for the different facilities.

"Consultants, Delos Delta and Council staff will tour the region later this month hosting a series of round table discussions. At these sessions, attendees will be presented with a summary of industry research and insights from the first round of engagement, before moving into an open discussion and feedback workshop. 

"For those who can't attend the sessions, a digital roundtable will be held for each strategy and a survey will be released offering another avenue for the community to have their say. The surveys will be made available online on Council's engagement platform and print versions can be collected from Council Customer Service Centres and Aquatic Centres.

"Council is dedicated to delivering modern infrastructure and quality essential services right across the region and it is important to us that the community is given the opportunity to help shape how they look. I would encourage our locals to get involved and have their say by either attending a session or completing the survey."

To view the full list of community round tale sessions and to RSVP, visit www.wdrc.qld.gov.au/aquatic-showgrounds-strategies. The survey is also hosted on this site and will close on Sunday 2 April 2023.

For more information contact Council on 1300 268 624 (COUNCIL) or visit www.wdrc.qld.gov.au/aquatic-showgrounds-strategies

More Information:

Aquatic Facilities Strategy Community Roundtable Schedule:

Showgrounds Strategy Community Roundtable Schedule:

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