FAQ

Council's community and cultural facilities are at different stages of planning, design and delivery. The Community Infrastructure Framework adopted in October 2014 is a methodology for the planning, design, delivery and management of community and cultural facilities now and in to the future.

The framework supports a network approach, which means considering how facilities can be designed, located and managed to contribute to the full complement of community facilities and spaces required across Tweed Shire (rather than just operating as individual facilities).

Council have been working with tenants/occupiers of facilities; stakeholders and general community over the past three years to gather information about the infrastructure providing services to the community.

Council has completed a needs analysis of community engagement to date; population and demographic trends, conducted audits of current facilities and mapped standards of service against existing and future infrastructure needs.

Council has been working with individual services regarding operational requirements which is a subset of this work. For more detailed information, a progress report went to Council on Thursday 19 April 2018. 

In adopting a network approach Council will continue to work with community and stakeholders to inform the delivery of projects for individual facilities based on the needs analysis and future engagement. Council will be addressing this by local, district and regional requirements.

Note: Planning for some community facilities is already underway and has been informed by the Community Infrastructure Framework.This includes Tweed Heads Branch Library; improvements to Murwillumbah Auditorium; Art Gallery; Tweed Heads Museum;Tweed Heads Civic and Cultural Centre.

Council has defined 52 services in 48 buildings as community and cultural facilities within scope of this work. When considering a network approach Council considers likeminded community infrastructure and services which help individuals, families, groups and communities meet their social needs, maximise their potential for development and enhance their wellbeing. State and Commonwealth Governments provide other social infrastructure such as education and health facilities that may inform this planning. Sport and recreational facilities are part of the considerations of the Open Space Strategy currently being developed.

Funding for the development of future community facilities or current facility upgrades comes from a range of sources. Operational and program funding for existing and future facilities will need careful consideration in the long term implementation, monitoring and evaluation following further network planning engagement. 

Development contributions are collected via the contributions plans established under Section 94 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act, 1979.  Contribution plans are updated from time to time to reflect demand attributed to the growing population associated with new development and will be reviewed as part of this work. Following further network planning, upgrades and future infrastructure needs will be informed by priority; available funding sources, site selection and type and design. 

Council has an adopted Community Engagement Strategy which outlines the levels, methods and techniques we will utilize across different stages of the Community Infrastructure Framework. This stage is to inform and consult with tenants/occupiers of facilities through Have Your Say engagement stage.