Residents of a rural town are being invited to shape the future of their town centre, with a streetscape revitalisation plan progressing to the community consultation stage.
Queensland Hydro, the group behind the Borumba Pumped Hydro Project scheme, has partnered with Gympie Regional Council and engagement specialists Fourfold Studios to deliver community consultation that will be used to inform a streetscape and heritage park concept plan for Imbil.
Fourfold Studios started hitting the ground last week to meet with businesses and locals, hosting a series of workshops and community sessions to identify the stories and character of Imbil, and to gather ideas for township improvements.
Imbil, which is home to just over 1000 people, is the closest town of significance to Lake Borumba.
The $14 billion project will require thousands of workers and inject millions of dollars into the local economy. It could generate power by 2030.
Queensland Hydro CEO Kieran Cusack said it was important to engage with communities to align and support meaningful initiatives that will provide a positive and enduring legacy.
“Queensland Hydro recognises that our responsibilities extend beyond the projects themselves and is committed to achieving the best outcomes for local communities near our proposed projects,” he said.
Related story: ‘We want to be good neighbours’: hydro project CEO
“The Imbil Streetscape Revitalisation aligns with our vision of delivering enduring legacies as part of our approach to community benefits, and we are proud to support initiatives that build community connectedness and preserve the unique history and culture of Imbil.
“We’re pleased to support Gympie Regional Council, Fourfold Studios and the community to bring this important project for Imbil to life.”
Gympie region mayor Glen Hartwig said community input was critical and he encouraged residents to take part.
“This is an exciting project for our region, and a unique opportunity to tell the story of Imbil, its rich heritage, and local icons,” he said.
“The goal of this community engagement is to revisit the existing masterplan which was completed in 2017, understand what is happening now, unpack the community’s aspirations for the future, and develop an understanding of Imbil’s identity and vision.
“There will be heaps of opportunities for the community to be involved, with online surveys, pop up sessions, workshops, and school sessions all set to take place over the next few months.
“From there, the team will collate the community’s input and check in to ensure we’ve got it right before a final concept is completed and presented to council later this year.”
Imbil residents are encouraged to take part in the upcoming community engagement opportunities, as well as contribute their ideas through an online survey on council’s website. Residents can find out more and access the survey here.
Do you have an opinion to share? Submit a Letter to the Editor at Sunshine Coast News via news@sunshinecoastnews.com.au. You must include your name and suburb.
