Council’s future planning collects Butch Lenton bursary

The Local Government Association of Queensland annual conference gala dinner was held last night, with Charters Towers Regional Council being announced as the recipient of a $10,000 bursary from Peak Services as winners of this year’s Butch Lenton Memorial Bush Council Innovation Award.

The award, which recognises innovation in Queensland’s bush councils and celebrates the contribution the late Mayor of Winton Shire, Graham ‘Butch’ Lenton made to his beloved community of Winton and the local government in Queensland, was awarded to Council for the community masterplan focussed on economic outcomes and liveable communities for the future.

The project was put into place following community feedback regarding the future planning for both Ravenswood and Greenvale towns, which are set to see significant change over the next decade due to potential mining company exit and increased military training.

Charters Towers Regional Council Mayor Frank Beveridge advised that Council responded to the feedback received and approached James Cook University’s Tropical Urbanism and Design Lab (TUDLab) and its industry partners to collaborate and develop the masterplans.

“The masterplan allowed students from JCU the opportunity for real life learnings across planning and stakeholder engagement and to make a positive difference to these regional communities, “said Mayor Frank Beveridge.

“The model focused on the potential of ‘townscapes’ with achievable visions to define the towns’ economic development, with a key focus being made on attracting tourists and new residents to ageing agricultural towns, improving the liveability for current residents, and keeping local youth engaged and participating in civic life.

“The success of this model and the response of the community to the students through community engagement has ensured a strong and inclusive vision was captured for Ravenswood and Greenvale. The next logical step is to undertake the same engagement with the Pentland and Hervey Range communities,” said Mayor Beveridge.

A panel of judges from across Queensland Local Government were pleased to see an application responding to community feedback and addressing the need to create and maintain liveable communities.

Council intends to use the $10,000 award bursary to commence the same masterplan process for two more communities in the region, Pentland, and Hervey Range.

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Photo: L – R Charters Towers Regional Council, Deputy Mayor - Graham Lohmann, Executive Manager Community Building - Hayley Thompson, CEO - Martin Drydale, Cr Julie Mathews and Peak Services Managing Director and CEO - Brent Reeman