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Maleny Forums tackle parking & traffic
Traffic and parking woes in Maleny
A new approach to community engagement and decision making in Maleny was launched in July called Maleny Forums.
The Maleny Forums model is based on a respectful and inclusive approach to gathering, sharing and discussing information on an issue, leading to decisions and actions.
The outcomes are driven by working groups formed as part of the forum, which then champion the results in whatever ways are identified as appropriate.
Maleny Forums is not characterised by formal membership. There are no elections and involvement is purely voluntary and non-political. Maleny Forums does not claim to represent or speak for the whole of Maleny.
Last Thursday evening, the first forum on traffic and parking in Maleny was held at the Maleny Community Centre.
With 70 locals in attendance, the Maleny Forums steering team presented the findings of their recent community survey on traffic and parking in Maleny.
Some of the findings were to be expected.
More than 80% of people gave Maleny a four or five star rating, and the same number feel that parking in Maple Street has grown worse. A high 98% said that they didn’t want paid parking in the town.
Then there were some unusual findings.
The survey found 41% of respondents say council is not listening enough to the local community and only 8% say they are (the remainder were on the fence). 30% preferred no cars in Maple Street and 47% reported experiencing ‘road rage’ style issues in town. 48% said they never walk into town.
In the wash up, four main areas of concerns became evident - safety and street crossings; town centre parking; placemaking/streetscaping; and traffic flow.
Maleny Forums steering team member Barry Smith said these four areas would now become the focus for individual working groups.
“Council has been very supportive,” Barry said.
“They have provided us with all the exact staff contacts we need to liaise with over these matters. So, we’ll have direct contact with the people who make decisions.
Council’s community engagement officer Sharon Beattie spoke at the forum and supported the process, saying that forming working groups would be beneficial during the council’s budget formulation process.
“The working groups will be able to competently inform council as to the local priorities and solutions, and council will have the confidence that the ideas are backed by the survey research and community input,” she said.
The call is now out for people who are interested in becoming part of one of the solutions-focused working groups.
