Walcha: A community that bands together for those in need.

Proud of the best level of services for the size of the township, Walcha Community’s assets and
social services bind together the people of the area, creating a resilient community. They know
how to support themselves to survive the challenges despite the losses that the community has
suffered. The next biggest challenge Walcha has identified is to
Become an Innovative community; developing a community strategy to
achieve their future goals…
THIS IS THEIR STORY!

Copyright Starfish Enterprises 2010

Chief Editors: Adam Blakester & Michael O’Loughlin
Compiled and designed by: Michael O’Loughlin & Irene Lemon
All images copyright ilemon2010
Walcha Community Plan - Building a Strong Healthy Resilient Sustainable New England Sustainable Strategy - an Environmental Trust NSW
funded project partnered by Armidale Dumeresq, Uralla,
New England & Regional Communities Guyra & Walcha Councils

Social Walcha's
Keep Working on Maintaining the Tourism
Infrastructure Bands
People 1. Being Innovative Council to convene
Economic Sustainability Feel - Identity of - capitalising on
Assets Together for Caring Friendly - pride Strategy- attracting Walcha Steering Cmtte Walcha Steering
of Walcha Enterprises Walcha natural attributes
those in need 'a community that can new enterprises, Cmtte. formed
Best Level - Community - representation etc across community,
of services for
- family feel with hold its head up' bird-watchers, employment for
support networks service clubs & people Population
a town this size raised money for Pool, Retain & Attract Reversing decline & gardens - deciduous youth
with expertise Increase
80% retire Aged Care Facility, Hall achieving critical tree plantings
Adequate Aged Care in Walcha Youth back - Building on what's
Health Ancillary to Walcha population size already happening & to drive strategy -
community supports Awareness of
Care Facilities, 3 service clubs itself; gets on geographical mainatining unique process, identify
Renewal Trades age succession Walcha Plan
Pre-School with it; survives position - social fabric partners, resources
Support local challenges, despite Apprentices of volunteers
thru traffic with key focus to enable
Services for those businesses losses - issue of bureaucracy New businesses
in need - incl. Retaining families in across region areas... innovation strategy
regulations attracted to town
HACC, early Wealth from Partnership with Aboriginal Walcha while working
Childhood industry with Community - cultural Maintaining away in Mining jobs Create employment 1.1 Attract new
Disability 3 Banks, Credit changes to cemetery promote apprentices Enrolments at
Viability nearby opportunities Broadband based
Union support group & School
Every Kid Diversity of Sustainability renewal of enterprises - computer
No Public programs
is catered for Businesses give Agri-Businesses of Agriculture apprentices skills appealing to youth
with sports, free their 'best shot' community Expansion of
- Skills against outside organise lock-up with
pool, sporting Garden transport existing businesses
Wool & Environmental Attract 1.2 Foster Sustainable key Govt. Regional
clubs, volunteers, Visits pressures eg wool
Grazing Strengths new Renewable Energy Development Bodies
overseas tours Rodeos with PETA maintaining health new apprenticeships
promoted Healthy Country enterprises to pitch - reach Employment rises
education providers & police
Intelligent - Accesses
learning off each Soil Types, Good using agreement
Good School uses
Rainfall, Head of 4 partnerships 1.3 Enhance Tourism -
other, balanced CSIRO Cost Rises - broadband Ongoing
network - central
approach to river catchments with city centric self-sufficiency in & ecotourism
& villages - job UNE
taxi business establish time-line relationships
farming, aware research sensitivities
pathways Misses out on ups energy, water - enterprise 1.4 Attract Elderly for objectives with Regional
of impacts on up to date & downs of western around agriculture remaining an
Access to environment information People & flow-on health Development
balanced inland regions appealing Build on Bodies - RDANI,
UNE services employment
Approachable Murray-Darling competitive place Retirement DII, AusIndustry,
Bikers Trail National Parks
stand alone Council water caps may affect town BEC
Tourism Wild & Bird life
Serviced by some in community Transportation
that opens & connects
2 regional Geographic & Road network Health
with community The Walcha SEED Plan is part of the 21 regional
airports Flow-thru location Complex
supports enterprises Attracting New community planning dialogues inputing
traffic N-S
Quality outdoor work & E-W Enterprises - Jobs Making this Plan useful into the Northern Inland Regional Development Plan
Outdoor building onto - integrating by Regional Development Australia Northern Inland
recognised, gym, mens shed
financially responsible - Art Nationally Difficulty of
using Broadband
Tourism recognised attracting outside
overseas artists to attract Adam Blakester
local Artists support funding
come to stay new enterprises Mick O'Loughlin