Council's CP30 Plan: Ambition Deferred, A Community Betrayed
Posted on: 2024-12-06 11:02:51
The 2019 CP30 Town Plan, once hailed as a visionary roadmap for Coober Pedy's future, now stands as a stark testament to council's failure to deliver on its promises. Instead of guiding the town toward revitalisation and prosperity, the plan has become a catalogue of unmet goals, wasted opportunities, and squandered resources.
An Ambitious Plan, Left to Gather Dust
The CP30 action plan was comprehensive and bold, addressing critical needs such as education, economic revitalisation, and community cohesion. Yet, in the five years since its inception, the council's efforts have been marked by inaction and mismanagement.
Take education as an example: The plan aimed for a modest but meaningful 1% annual increase in school enrolments. In 2020, Coober Pedy Area School had 248 students enrolled. Fast forward to today, and enrolments have plummeted to around 156 students—a dramatic decline that underscores the council's failure to prioritise or support local education. Attendance has mirrored this downward spiral, creating a dire situation for the town's youth. [Source: MySchool.edu.au]
Revitalizing the opal mining industry— a cornerstone of Coober Pedy's identity—was another key objective. Instead, miners face mounting economic pressures, with the soaring cost of diesel making operations increasingly unviable. Promised marketing strategies to reinvigorate the industry have yet to materialize, leaving the town's primary economic driver languishing.
A Handball to Nowhere
Rather than taking ownership of the CP30 plan, the council outsourced its implementation to a contractor under the banner of "Coober Pedy Together." What was once an all-encompassing vision has been watered down to disjointed initiatives, many of which are laughably out of touch with the community's needs.
The contractor, operating from outside the community, has achieved little of substance despite sucking an estimated $420,000 from ratepayer funds. To date, the group's only tangible accomplishments have been the construction of a children's play area and organising annual Christmas parties. These efforts, while appreciated, pale in comparison to the scope of CP30's original ambitions.
Meanwhile, notable failures include tone-deaf schemes like hosting a party for the governor, which did little to address the town's pressing challenges. Social media commentary and local chatter reveal growing dissatisfaction, with many residents feeling that the contractor's efforts have sown division rather than unity.
Good Intentions, Misguided Execution
To be clear, this critique is not aimed at the community volunteers who have poured their hearts into Coober Pedy Together. These individuals joined with noble intentions, driven by a desire to improve their town. However, their efforts have been hamstrung by poor facilitation, a lack of direction, and the council's abdication of its leadership responsibilities.
The friction between supporters and critics of Coober Pedy Together underscores the deeper issue: the council's failure to foster meaningful dialogue and collaboration within the community. By outsourcing its responsibilities, the council has alienated residents and exacerbated divisions.
Time to Listen, Time to Act
It is past time for the council to take accountability and return to the drawing board. The original CP30 action plan, if implemented properly, could still serve as a blueprint for a brighter future. But this requires leadership—real leadership.
The council must:
• Engage directly with the community, listening to their concerns and aspirations.
• Facilitate grant applications and provide support for grassroots initiatives.
• Reallocate funds toward projects that genuinely benefit Coober Pedy, rather than lining the pockets of outside contractors.
Imagine what $420,000 could have achieved if invested wisely over the past five years. Infrastructure improvements? Support for local businesses? Youth programs? These are the kinds of investments that build a stronger, more cohesive community—not empty promises and wasted resources.
Moving Forward
Coober Pedy deserves better. It deserves a council that prioritises its people over convenience, action over excuses, and unity over division. The CP30 plan may have faltered, but it's not too late to pick up the pieces and start anew. The question is: Will the council rise to the occasion, or will it continue to fail the town it was appointed to serve?
Author: Jason Wright