Casey, home to talkers

By Lia Bichel
CHATTY residents can ‘join the conversation’ on a new, interactive website recently launched by the City of Casey.
Casey Conversation is designed to get Casey residents talking about important issues affecting the municipality’s future.
It is a dedicated consultation portal giving the local community the space and opportunity to provide feedback on a range of advocacy initiatives.
City of Casey mayor Lorraine Wreford said the site opened up the council’s consultation process, making it more accessible to the wider Casey community.
“The City of Casey is Victoria’s largest municipality, with a socially and geographically diverse community.
“Our challenge is to encourage broad participation across the entire city so council can hear a variety of views to help inform decision making,” Cr Wreford said.
“The council has launched this site to ensure everyone has an opportunity to be heard.
“By moving the conversation online, we can bring a larger audience into the public policy debate. We’re reaching out to the silent majority and lowering the barriers to participation, so everyone can have a say.
“Research indicates where online consultation is available.
“Seventy per cent of contributors are engaged between eight in the morning and six at night.
“People are more likely to get involved if they can do so during the day, rather than having to set aside time after work or over the weekend.”
Cr Wreford said Casey Conversations was available anywhere and anytime residents had an internet connection.
“I encourage all Casey residents to register and participate in our community conversations,” she said.
“Let’s get Casey talking.”
Casey Conversations is available at: www.caseyconversations.com.au
For the next few months, Casey Conversations will focus on several key advocacy issues, which could make a major difference to the lives of residents.
These issues include the duplication of notorious sections of Casey’s state road network, upgrading dangerous main road intersections, immediate construction of the Cranbourne East railway station, extended and enhanced bus services, improving broadband access and obtaining funding for the construction of the Casey Community Resource Centre.