At a meeting on September 1st last year at the Raymond Island Community Centre to discuss future Council plans for the island, a number of working groups were formed for discussions between Raymond Islanders and the East Gippsland Shire Council (EGSC) on matters of importance to those on the island and a commitment given by the shire to work with these groups. Some of the groups have been active, some less so, but there is no coordination of the group’s activities from the island, so no-one really knows. The opportunity for consultation with the Shire
was recognised at the meeting as valuable and if not taken, may make it more difficult in the future
for us to get the attention of the shire on matters which are important to us. At a recent meeting,
the EGSC commitment to work with the groups was reaffirmed.
The working groups formed included the following:
- Raymond Island Ferry
- Protection and Enhancement of the Raymond Island Environment
- Roads / Pathways / walking trails / bicycle trails
- Boardwalks Tourism Opportunities
At the public meeting, fire safety, firebreak maintenance, elderly friendly island and street lighting
were also raised by islander but no specific working groups formed for these.
It can now be seen that there is scope for combining some of these as there is obvious overlap, for example between pathways and boardwalks. Depending on what has been achieved and who is available to be involved it may make sense to combine some of the groups.
Some of the working groups may have made great progress, others may have lost direction or people who volunteered to be involved can no longer do so. Perhaps the groups need reorganising, perhaps new people can help. Either way, we have an opportunity to get the attention of the Shire and we want to ensure that it is not an opportunity lost.
Warwick Hall has offered to be a central contact point. Can representatives of those working groups
that are making progress and those who are interested to be involved please contact Warwick at e: wmh1501@gmail.com.
This is not a RICA activity, but an entire island community activity. The working groups are made up of RICA members and non RICA members, all island working groups.
We look forward to your involvement.
