That’s a question that Maitland City Council is calling on the community to help answer.

Council is looking for people to fill out surveys for the next six weeks to help inform the Maitland +10 plan – a strategy that will help shape the city’s priorities for the next 10 years.

For the past 12 months, council has been reviewing its plans and formulating a new strategy. Staff have also been speaking with community members throughout the year to help guide the process. 

Now they are giving the floor to members of the public, through a series of quick and easy surveys, so communities can make it clear what’s important to them.

The surveys will focus on future education opportunities for Maitland, ‘what next’ for Central Maitland, heritage, attracting local business, jobs and the economy, long term planning for the city, environment and natural resources.

Major initiatives like The Levee project (pictured), the Maitland indoor aquatic centre and the Maitland Sportsground upgrades have been part of previous long-term city plans.

In an interview posted on council’s Maitland Your Say Facebook page, the city’s Strategy and Performance executive manager Leah Flint said urged people to get involved in the process.

“Sometimes it’s hard to think 10 years into the future and even to reflect 10 years back in the past,” she said.

“Back in 2007, we had about 62,000 residents here in Maitland and we were growing in areas like Rutherford, Largs, Bolwarra.

"Now we’re up over 80,000 people and we’ve seen whole new suburbs develop in areas like Gillieston Heights, Thornton North, Chisholm. So we’ve really changed a lot in that time.

“We’re trying to make it as easy as possible for people to have their say.”

One survey will be released each week during the next six weeks through maitlandyoursay.com.au and on the Maitland Your Say Facebook page. 

Hard copies can be completed at the city’s libraries, Maitland Regional Art Gallery, Maitland Gaol or at council’s administration building.

It’s in everyone’s interest to get involved and provide feedback to increase the chances that the Maitland we have in a decade is the one we want.