What do you do when you live in the fastest growing regional Shire in Australia?  How do you stimulate innovative and creative industries and provide opportunities to enable young people to stay in their hometown?  How do you keep your community and cultural identity in the face of overwhelming population growth?  How do you manage the change and protect quality of life, whilst welcoming and including "newcomers"?  How can the "surf's up, tools down" traditions of the South West corner of Western Australia survive in the face of increasing urbanisation?

The answers to these questions for the Shire of Busselton were explored in the development of a Cultural Plan, through more than 50 community workshops and meetings over an 18 month period.  Unanimously endorsed by Council on 26 October 2005, the Cultural Plan is a management system which has identified and enlisted Cultural Partners including key representative bodies from all art forms along with tourism, business and education.  The Cultural Plan, a living document which is updated every six months and refined through a process of ongoing consultation, includes a collective vision, goals and an action plan to address projects, ideas, urban planning and allocates shared responsibility to local government and community.  The Cultural Plan is a true community map, representing the dreams, vision and commitment of residents in the unique towns and villages in the Shire.

Cultural Mapping Report

The Cultural Mapping report came out of a number of community workshops and meetings, which explored spaces, people, inspiration, spiritual links and customs within the Shire of Busselton.  A public art profile and arts and cultural database was also developed and included within the report.

The Cultural Mapping report gave a snapshot of the Shire's arts and cultural landscape and provided a base for the development of the Shire of Busselton Cultural Plan.

Cultural Partners

A Cultural Partners Reference Group has formed to partnership with the Shire of Busselton to develop and implement the Cultural Plan on an ongoing basis.  The Cultural Partners have responsibilities to drive certain elements of the Cultural Plan and are an important part of the continuing community engagement which is a cornerstone of the Cultural Plan.  As such regular meetings are held and notes and a contact list are detailed below:

    Cultural Partners Presentation Notes
    Cultural Partners Contact List
    Cultural Partners Meeting Notes: 24 January 2006

Community Cultural Events Calendar

Enquiries can be directed to Cultural Planning Officer, Lorna Secrett, at lornas@busselton.wa.gov.au or on 9781 0429.

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