Integral with the formation of a merged Council is the incentive packages from State Government aimed at improving, renewing or creating much needed infrastructure.

These improvements to our communities have been warmly embraced and we have seen seemingly ambitious community projects realised. 

A quotation by former British wartime leader Sir Winston Churchill of "one cannot leap chasms in two jumps" is realised as an extra vibrancy is felt as community and Council unite through mutual support, fulfilling strategic progress.

That chasm is widened if one player demands dominance. This challenges the rural character, as appears to be the case with a proposed regional library development for Young.

It is wonderful to see State Government acknowledge the need for a futuristic (in whatever form) library and cultural precinct in the region, but another dimension is introduced if existing heritage, environmental and cultural characteristics are threatened.

No one can deny there is need for a new style library, for a cultural centre, for recognised all age learning facilities, and for continuing community engagement. It is concerning when current indicators are ignoring community input.

Like the many residents who have physically expressed concern, it does not fit with me to have recently announced library funding conditional on external visionaries who have demonstrated little respect of our local heritage, environmental, and sentimental character.

The chasm now needs to be crossed by building a bridge on a firm foundation built by genuine community input into the project.

​Cr John Walker