Common town planner for Plantagenet, Tambellup, Cranbrook and Gnowangerup

16/4/99
The Great Southern shires of Plantagenet, Tambellup, Cranbrook and Gnowangerup have more in common than their boundaries - now they also share a town planner.
Commerce and Trade Minister Hendy Cowan announced today that a joint application made by the four shires for the Department of Commerce and Trade's Shared Town Planner Scheme was successful.
Mr Cowan said funding of $70,000 was the first to be approved under the scheme. However, assistance had been provided previously for two similar arrangements involving a total of 10 shires.
Applications for 1999-2000 funding under the Shared Town Planner Scheme close at the end of April.
"Mr Rob Henzel has been appointed to the Great Southern position," Mr Cowan said.
"He has around 20 years experience which will benefit the region greatly.
"Investment is growing rapidly, and the shires require a strategic approach to ensure they benefit from the investment. The Shared Town Planner Scheme offers an excellent opportunity to ensure that good planning takes place in years to come.
"Mr Henzel will be based in Mount Barker and be involved in the development of a Regional Wine Tourism Strategy and a Regional Agroforestry Strategy. In addition, he will assist each council with the development of their own planning schemes, rural strategies, industrial land planning, heritage tourism planning and townscape options.
"The shires will receive a payment of $40,000 for 1998-99 from Shared Town Planner Scheme funds.
"This will be followed by a second grant payment of $30,000 to be made once the four shires have presented a report to the Department of Commerce and Trade outlining the impacts and outcomes of the activities undertaken by the shared town planner.
Up to 30 per cent of Mr Henzel's work time is expected to be in Gnowangerup, Tambellup and Cranbrook, and the remainder in Plantagenet.
Mr Cowan said that in the past, shires have had to appoint consultant town planners at a great cost to the community. None of the shires have had full-time planners in recent years.
"The Shared Town Planner Scheme will allow each authority to have a locally based planner closely associated with activities in the area," the Minister said.
Media contact: Peter Jackson 9222 9595