Strategic Plan
Foreword
We welcome you to our new Strategic Plan; a plan that sets out the Shire of Derby/West Kimberley’s direction for the five year period until 2012. For the first time our strategic plan attempts to capture a vision that looks well into the future; some 15 years. This has been done to capture the long term aspirations and dreams of the community and to give guidance in decision making beyond a five year block. The role of the Strategic Plan is to guide the activities of councillors and staff, ensuring that we focus on the matters of importance to the community. Following the success of our previous plans, which have resulted in a significantly more stable and administratively more efficient organisation with improved communication systems, the strong focus of this Strategic Plan is continuing the prosperity of the region by tapping into non traditional opportunities. These opportunities have been visioned and actively embraced my many. For the first time the plan was formulated without recognition of the financial position of the Shire. Whilst we are mindful always of our financial outlook, we have delivered and the Kimberley lifestyles flourish. We are confident that the strategies and action plans within the Strategic Plan can and will be achieved. This plan is a ‘Living Document’, subject to ongoing review, with outcomes and achievements that will be reported to the community. We thank all participants and contributors in the various workshops that were conducted and encourage your continued participation and review of this document. Further comments and input are always welcome from all residents. Thanks also go to Dr Liz Pattison, the consultant appointed to facilitate the preparation of this plan. Her skills ensured that we achieved our goal of developing a plan with the community, for the community and for the future.
The Spirit of the True Kimberley
The Shire of Derby/West Kimberley covers a vast area of 118,560 square kilometres. Is located more than 2,000 kilometres north of Perth and has numerous Aboriginal Communities and two main towns – Derby and Fitzroy Crossing.
The area represents the true Kimberley and the community fully reflects the Kimberley spirit.
The term the true Kimberley captures the special attributes of the place:
- The enormous opportunities and untapped potential.
- The dramatic and beautiful landscape of Gorges, Islands, Mountain Ranges, Mud Flats, Boab trees and the mighty Fitzroy River.
- The colours, wildlife, abundant fishing grounds and pastoral country.
- The extreme environment with huge tides (the highest in the Southern Hemisphere), and the two distinct seasons, the Wet and the Dry, with Tropical storms and floods in the Wet season
While the Kimberley Spirit refers to the distinctiveness of the people that results from:
- The remoteness that creates a pioneering spirit and common bond.
- The strong presence of Aboriginal culture and language.
- The mix of people from many backgrounds and cultures who live in harmony.
- The history of struggle, conflict, endeavour and resilience.
- The close connection of the people to the land, the landscape and the seasons.
- The friendly, welcoming style of the people and the relaxed lifestyle.
- The feeling of 'Coming Home'.
Our Mission Statement
“We work with our Community and other partners to achieve prosperity and maintain the Kimberley Lifestyle.”
Our Innovations and Achievements
Since the development of our last Strategic Plan in 2004 Councillors and staff have worked together to achieve:
- An ongoing positive and proactive attitude within the Shire to the potential of the region.
- Relationships that deliver benefits for our community.
- Creation of an environment that encourages investment and opportunity.
- Redevelopment of the domestic aerodrome at Curtin and the reintroduction of jet air services to Perth.
- Location of the regional prison in Derby bringing new residents and business opportunities.
- Development of the wharf and shipping capacity.
- Land releases in Fitzroy Crossing and Derby.
- Enhanced recreation facilities and programs in Derby and Fitzroy Crossing.
- Meeting the core functions of Council to a high standard.
- A service oriented, customer focused culture.
- Skilled and experienced staff and maintenance of good relationships between Councillors and Staff.
- Confidence in the Shire as highlighted in the 2008 Strategic Planning workshops with the community.
The learning from these achievement positions us well to deliver this Strategic Plan for 2008 -2012.
Our VisionThe Next 10 – 15 Years
Our vision centres on the people of Derby/West Kimberley.
We believe the Shire of Derby/West Kimberley must continue to reflect the true Kimberley spirit, retaining our very special culture and identity while meeting the needs of the future.
We seek to achieve a very special bled of friendly, welcoming communities and vibrant, attractive towns. Our future will be built on people working together and respecting each other’s values and lifestyles. We will value our natural environment. Enjoying out landscape, heritage and culture will continue to be a life experience that will promote and share will new comers and visitors. The prospects for the Shire of Derby/West Kimberley are enormous and we expect that major opportunities will be realised during the next 10 – 15 years, for example: - Recognition of the Shire of Derby/West Kimberley as a preferred choice for people establishing businesses and for lifestyle.
- Development of the untapped agriculture and forestry potential of our vast rangelands, creating new income streams and employment, and enabling a major shirt in opportunity for our Indigenous people through:
- Agriculture projects within Indigenous communities;
- Employment for Indigenous people in labour intensive agriculture on pastoral properties; and
- Development of education and training in agriculture to provide new careers for young people
- Building on the connection of Indigenous people with the land.
- Creation of infrastructure for economic development and employment, including:
- Achievement of significant and sustained community benefit from major resource industry projects.
- Realisation of the dream of a marina for locals and tourists, with locks, waterside housing, boardwalks, boat berths and a sandy beach.
- Population growth bringing quality and choice in community facilities and services including education, health housing, arts, culture, shopping and recreation.
- Resolution of Indigenous social issues through land tenure, education training and the new avenues of employment which will flow from major resource projects and agriculture development of pastoral lands.
Our Beliefs and Values
We believe in: - The future potential of the area.
- The people of Derby/West Kimberley and their passion for the area.
- Community harmony.
- Our distinctive natural environment, landscape, heritage and culture.
- Our will to succeed.
- Making our community a great place to live for our children and future generations.
- Controlling our own destiny.
Our values are: - Commitment, care and compassion for those we serve and represent.
- Genuine respect for other people’s values.
- Being an organisation of integrity that values external relationships.
- Appreciation of everyone’s contribution to the achievement of the Vision for Derby/West Kimberley.
- Courage to find solutions that will work for our people and region.
- Enjoying the journey to the future.
Documents
| File Type | File Size | File Name | File Description |  | 3.7MB | StrategicPlan.pdf | Document containing the full Strategic Plan 2008-2012 for the Shire of Derby/West Kimberley. |
|
|
|
