<< Peninsula News February 2002 - Forum on challenges facing communities >>

Forum on challenges facing communities

Peninsula residents and community groups have been invited to attend a forum organised to discuss challenges faced by and solutions for local communities.

The Central Coast Community Congress will have a theme of "Making Headway" and will be held at Mingara Recreation Club on Thursday and Friday, February 21 and 22.

A range of workshops will provide participants with information on a range of community development methods.

There will also be examples of successful community projects, both from the Central Coast and further afield.

The two-day community congress is organised into many workshops covering the themes of partnerships, innovative community development approaches and tools for change.

Keynote speakers will be Peter Kenyon, from the Centre for Small Town Development, and NSW Community Services Commissioner Robert Fitzgerald.

They will address issues that organisers say also challenge Peninsula community members - how to maximise our capacity to cooperate for everyone's benefit.

Gosford Council community development worker and Peninsula resident Shirley Hotchkiss said that holding the congress was itself a good example of several organisations, including the council, working together.

She said: "Often such forums are only available in major cities and so the organisers are to be commended for making this available here on the Central Coast.

"It gives us all a chance to access and apply new ideas in community development."

For more information, contact Gosford Council's community development section on 4325 8351 or email: community.development@gosford.nsw.gov.au.

Press release, February 6