Boost for action plan

By Alison Noonan
CRANBOURNE will receive a welcome funding boost for the development of a long-term community plan.
Minister for Victorian Communities, John Thwaites, announced the $500,000 State Government grant during a whistle-stop visit last week.
The funding is part of the Victorian Community Support Grants program and will help to establish the future direction of Cranbourne.
Mayor Kevin Bradford said the Cranbourne Community Plan would involve a community development process linked with the infrastructure and planning activities of council, local organisations and government bodies.
“It will engage the fast-growing communities of Cranbourne to ensure that the rapid pace of development is met with suitable responses based on a local partnership,” Cr Bradford said.
“Development of the plan will see a large number of agencies and organisations work in partnership to support the community in identifying priorities and action plans and directing the available resources in a way that will maximise long-term benefits for local residents.”
Cr Bradford said Cranbourne was a rapidly-growing area that would become one of the city’s largest communities in terms of size and projected population.
He said the area was forecast to grow from approximately 40,000 people to more than 100,000 in the next 25 years.