The taskforce has several proposed projects it is working on including a BMX track, developing a town motto and forming a cooperative to run the community market days.
Taskforce chairwoman Laurel Turnbull said the organisation was founded after the release of the Mataura Community Health Needs Assessment last year.
Already the organisation had managed to host several successful events including the Christmas Gala, Mrs Turnbull said.
In an effort to address key issues identified in the report and to bring a sense of pride and belonging to the town, the taskforce had been working to come up with initiatives which it hoped to make a reality, she said.
Without doubt the presence of Imagine Chicago founder Bliss Brown, at a community planning day in late November, provided a platform to generate ideas and include the whole community in developing initiatives.
Even though the group has only been in existence for a short time, Mrs Turnbull is pleased with its achievements.
‘‘In that time, all that has been achieved is really tremendous,'' Mrs Turnbull said. "Mataura has a lot of great things happening and all we need is to build on what's already here,'' she said.
The fact there were myriad clubs and sporting codes operating in the town provided a positive platform for further growth and development, she said.
Several sub-groups had been formed to investigate ideas, Mrs Turnbull said.
These sub-groups included:
- An economic development sub-group which will investigate setting up a cooperative to run the community market that operates out of the new Mataura Community Centre.
That group was also keen to source funding and buy a building, which could be used by people wanting to set up business in Mataura, she said. - Another sub-group was working on developing a town motto.
One idea being floated is ‘‘Strengthened by the past, working together in the present to create an enduring future''. The community would be given the opportunity to give feedback on any motto ideas, she said.
The sub-group is also keen to install new signage for the town in conjunction with the Gore District Council, which incorporates the motto.
- The first community newsletter has been distributed and it is envisaged newsletters will be produced monthly and there has been a good response from a call for delivery volunteers.
- The taskforce planning committee is planning a family event aimed at the whole community which may be held on the Saturday before Easter. It will be a low-cost, family fun day with Easterthemed activities.
- Plans are also afoot to start a hip-hop group.
- Mrs Turnbull is keen to start a morning tea for newcomers to the town once a month and there is also a possibility of starting a young mothers' group.
- There are also plans to form an art group.
- A sub-committee was working on establishing a BMX track in the town to provide a recreational facility for the town's young people and negotiations for a suitable site were taking place, Mrs Turnbull said.
A sub-committee was charged with the formulation of a funding strategy so that the ideas could be implemented, she said.
