Facing the future

By Danielle Galvin
RESIDENTS concerned about the future of Pakenham can come along to a Cardinia Shire Council community workshop next week.
The council is encouraging community members to have their say on the direction of Pakenham’s town centre.
It is the second stage in the development of the Pakenham Structure Plan.
The council’s strategic planner Belinda Powell said community members should come along to the community workshop to have their say.
“It is really important that as many people as possible voice their opinion,” she said.
“The plan will guide the future growth and development of central Pakenham.”
The first stage of the development of the plan was the exhibition of the initial discussion paper, followed by the key directions paper. The next stage is developing the draft structure plan and finally the delivery of the overall structure plan.
The council will develop the plan in consultation with the Pakenham community, service providers and traders.
Michael Porter from the Pakenham Business Group (PBG) and the owner of Pakenham Sign A Rama, said the group sent out an email on Monday encouraging their contacts to get along to the workshop.
“The PBG had an open business forum recently and it was mentioned there,” he said.
“And we strongly encouraged businesses to get involved.”
Mr Porter said in the first stage of the development of the plan the council had a poor response, which meant it was important for traders to get along to the workshop this time and have their say.
“Jaime Parsons, who is the urban designer for the Cardinia Shire, attended the PBG meeting on Monday 27 August to present the group the key directions paper,” he said.
“It was very interesting to go through the paper.”
Mr Porter said the PBG encouraged all businesses to get involved and get along to the workshop.
The key directions paper is available online from www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/structureplans. Hard copies are available from the council offices in Henty Way, Pakenham.
Community members can still have their say via email or post. Submissions can be made via mail@cardinia.vic.gov.au.
The community workshop will be on Thursday 6 September, at 7pm at Pakenham Hall, corner John and Henry streets, Pakenham. RSVP to the council on 1300 787 624 for catering purposes.