Four new advisory committees have been formed under the banners of Events and Tourism, Access, Arts and Culture and Village and Rural Improvement, with each to be made up of two councillors and five to seven community members. 

“Councillors have indicated that they want to provide more opportunities for community stakeholders to participate in the development of our town and community- setting a new committee structure is one way of doing that,” general manager James Davis said. 

Mr Davis said the four 355 committees were designed to line up with the goals of the revised community strategic plan and delivery program. 

“Hopefully through the process community members will become advocates for initiatives put forward in the wider community so that information is spread more widely,” Mr Davis said. 

The committees will meet quarterly. 

Tony Butt, president of the Junee Business and Trades Association said he thinks it’s a good move, putting some power back in the hands of the people engaged on the ground. 

“Having interested groups do most of the leg work and council overseeing to make sure it all happens is a good idea,” he said.

He said council communicate with JBT reguarly and have done a good job of supporting local business. 

“They try get DAs through as quick as they can, there’s no hand-outs nor should there be, but they don’t put too many brick walls up,” he said. 

Junee Motor Inn manager Sabina Wunsch said the town has huge tourism potential and a committee was a wonderful idea.

“We have everything we need in town to be successful in getting more tourists, if everyone put their service on the table and said this is what I have to build unity and know where we’re going then success will come,” she said. 

Applications to serve on committees as community or business members will commence late this month and be assessed in December. 

Mr Davis said members will likely be limited to sitting on just one committee in the interest of encouraging more people to get involved.