Cittaslow Network Australasian

AUSTRALASIAN

The Australasian Cittaslow Network has comprised 3 original members since its inception in 2007: Goolwa, Alexandrina in the state of South Australia, Katoomba, Blue Mountains in New South Wales, and Yea, Murrindindi in the state of Victoria. Echuca-Moama, was in the process of preparing its application prior to the pandemic

Australasia presents several distinct challenges that determine the capacity for Cittaslow commu- nities to develop an active regional network. Within Australia alone, the wide distances separating communities (a ‘tyranny of distance’) ensures a strong sense of separation. Coupled with the fact that we are governed by three levels of government dictating different priorities and needs in each of the 8 states and territories, this serves to inhibit travel and communication despite our efforts. Cittaslow towns and regions are linked inherently to their local government authorities, but driven, resourced and staffed by community volunteers. Naturally each community applies the principles of Cittaslow according to local personality, issues, needs and commitments, with a natural tendency to focus inwards on immediate demands. In the past two years, the world-wide Covid 19 pandemic has compounded this sense of separation, with its periodic lockdowns, state and international border closures, activity restrictions and isolation mandates. Across Australia the visible impacts of Climate Change have doubly compounded this ef- fect, with communities experiencing a sequence of catastrophic natural disasters in the form of bush- fires and floods resulting in unprecedented loss of homes and livelihood, and human deaths. In short, we have been living through a time in which the lo- cal demands on volunteers in terms of survival have been so extreme that reaching out to far-flung com- munities to join a national and international network is harder than ever to achieve. Recognising the barriers, in 2021 the Board of the national network crafted a new tool for encouraging towns and regions to work towards Cittaslow ac- creditation. The tool, titled ‘Let’s Connect’, presen- ts the argument for becoming Cittaslow in simpler terms, stream-lining the process for application and articulating more clearly the kind of support that the network can provide. In particular the tool is writ- ten in the regional vernacular which will hopefully appeal to potential members.