Marnoo residents have had their future plans and priorities outlined in a new planned released by the Northern Grampians Shire Council.
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In their March meeting, the council formally tabled the Marnoo Community Action Plan 2021-25 after an extensive public consultation period.
The plan also identified three priorities: encouraging families to stay in the area, attracting and retaining new families, and maintaining and growing local job opportunities.
Marnoo resident Lois Johnson said the plan is vital in ensuring the town remains strong.
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"You can't look backwards, you've got to look forwards and keep planning," she said.
"The growth of the town is a little bit tricky because it is mainly about hanging on to what we have got so we don't lose anything else.
"We don't want to lose too much more, we really miss not having our milk bar-post office, and the town has found that very hard.
"We only have postal boxes now, and we don't have a place to go and do those transactions any more so that has affected quite a few people."
Ms Johnson is hoping the town and the council work together to strengthen what the town already has.
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"I think we need to keep hold of our community swimming pool and try to keep our school open and the shire do a lovely job of looking after the streetscape in town," she said.
"The town hall is also getting some upgrades, so that will be good because it helps to hold a function if your hall is up to date and looking good, and it helps to keep things down.
"We are just moving along, doing their own thing and like most small communities there is a small group of people who get together and keep the town moving."
The council said the plan is "integral to strengthening what already exists in Marnoo while also allowing for adaptation to an ever changing environment".
"Council and community share ownership and responsibility of the plan, providing context for focused effort and investment in time, money and resources.
"Underpinning the development of the plan is the sentiment that locally developed solutions are essential for successful projects."
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