AFTER almost four years playing a critical role in helping identify and address issues important to the local community, Maleny Forums is seeking input on topics that could be addressed in 2023.
It has been a big year for MF, with a change of leadership and a number of forums held over the course of 2022 including the consideration of a multigenerational park for the hinterland town.
MF was created in 2019 as an unfunded non-incorporated independent entity that provides a means of community engagement and better decision-making through the use of community forums.
From waste reduction to pathways, EV charging stations, traffic and parking issues and disaster preparedness just to name a few, MF has been incredibly active in its short history.
Founding member, Barry Smith, said that MF provides all community residents with the opportunity to raise, discuss and act on matters that impact on the broader community or sectors of it. Maleny Forums approach was chosen by the community.
“The approach aims to ensure the voice of the community is not shackled by vested interests or controlling structures,” Barry said, adding “Maleny forums is not politically aligned.”
“The partnership between Maleny Community Centre, Hinterland Business Centre, Maleny Neighbourhood and Maleny Forums goes a long way to show that community engagement and empowerment is still valued highly in Maleny.”
Waste Action Maleny’s Yvonne Holmes said WAM “is grateful for Maleny Forums which gave voice to the community interest in reducing waste in our town”.
Joan McVilly, member of the Pathways working group and also member of the Maleny Forums Coordinating Team, explained that the working group emerged from the first Forum held by Maleny Forums, out of a deep concern for the unsafe and absence of footpaths and bikeways in Maleny.
“The group was encouraged and practically supported by Maleny Forums right through to the final collation and presentation of the extensive survey to SCC at a well-attended Maleny forum at Maleny Community Centre,” she said.
“This report was submitted to Sunshine Coast Council, and was re-submitted during the recent SCC consultation on Streetscaping in Maple Street.”
More recently, the issue of a lack of park space for people was raised in a working group discussing a Multigenerational Park for Maleny.
Rossina Moore, Co-convenor of the working group, said that she appreciated “the supportive environment for families and the structure to the meeting which created a space for productive discussion”.
“There is great enthusiasm in the working group,” she said.
With 2023 on the horizon, the Maleny Forums Coordinating Team is now inviting ideas from Maleny residents about community issues which would be helped along by a community forum.
To be considered for a forum, the issue must be something where there is strong community concern, and where deepening peoples understanding of the issue and the formation of a working group would be helpful.
Maleny Forums is unlikely to convene or promote forums about issues already being addressed by an existing group, or if it is a matter of conflict resolution.
How does MF decide which issues to explore?
Forums are convened on key issues that exist within the Maleny community, typically raised by Maleny residents and where it can be shown that there is already strong community concern, but no action group exists to address the issue.
A forum provides an opportunity for informative, factual, inclusive and respectful community wide discussion and decision-making.
Generally, a working group is encouraged to form to take action about the community issue. Maleny Forums Coordinating Team provides initial support to any working group formed. All working groups have an identity independent of Maleny Forums.
A short history
Maleny Forums itself arose from a public forum in 2019, attended by 80 residents.
A range of community engagement approaches were offered and the group selcted the approach in use by Maleny Forums.
The original Maleny Forums Coordinating Team consisted of Barry Smith, Claire Booth and Sheila Bryden, Roger Westcott, Spencer Shaw, Barry Eastman and Amelia Ross.
Who is Maleny Forums associated with? Maleny Forums works in partnership with Maleny Neighbourhood Centre, Hinterland Business Centre, and Maleny Community Centre.
Maleny Forums has an ongoing relationship with the Sunshine Coast Council through Sharon Beatie, the SCC Community Engagement Officer.
In February 2022 MFCT met with the SCC Chief Executive Officer (Ms Emma Thomas) to inform her of the role of Maleny Forums, and to draw to her attention issues that have been raised by the Maleny community including: the Pathways Report, Maleny Library Extension, Maleny Streetscape Project and the need for additional toilets in the Maleny CBD.
Forums held since 2019?
Establishment of the Maleny Forums model
Traffic and parking
Meet the SCC election candidates
Meet the Qld Govt election candidates
Disaster Preparedness
Responses to climate change
In-depth discussion climate change responses
In-depth discussion on EV charging stations
NBN issues in and around Maleny
Reduce, reuse, recycle and repair (4Rs)
Forum for the Pathways Survey Presentation
Meet the Federal Govt election candidates
Placemaking and Streetscaping
Community E-bus
Multigenerational Park
Who are members of the Maleny Forums Coordinating Team?
Current members are Joan McVilly, Ernie Marcum, Glenys McAlpine, Jane Sherwin, Ritva Vilppola and Jana Zehr.
Looking to the future…
Cooridanting Team member Jane Sherwin said the Maleny Forums has learned that much can be gained when residents are brought together.
“It’s always exciting when a working gorup forms so that residents work together to solve local issues,” she said.
Joan McVilly said that the Coordinating Team is very hoepful of receiving ideas from Maleny residents for forums in 2023.
Send Maleny Forums an email with your contact details and a brief description of the issue to malenyforums@gmail.com.
