![Council establish new group Council establish new group](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/32YmRiivtENukX3prXGk2iY/dc607680-9aeb-491b-982f-faacedf08a4e.jpg/r0_0_1200_675_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Maitland Council will establish a new reference group to support and develop cultural identity, pride and participation for the city’s local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
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Councillors unanimously backed the officer’s report and its recommendations for the new reference group at its fortnightly meeting on Tuesday.
As part of the 2018-2021 delivery program, council are required to ‘implement the recommendations from the adopted Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Framework to raise awareness and celebrate local indigenous heritage including the establishment of a reference group’.
Labor councillor Henry Meskauskas nominated fellow party member councillor Ben Whiting and Liberal councillor Ben Mitchell to be part of the reference group for the remainder of the council term.
Speaking on the matter, Cr Meskauskas praised the establishment of the Aboriginal Reference Group in the Maitland community.
“I think it’s a very important group. It’s part of our delivery program. I think it’s a draft term of reference group and it is all drawn up,” he said.
“For this Aboriginal reference group, council can move forward … so we can have more information for planning of the city and making it a better city to live in.”
Cr Whiting and Cr Mitchell accepted the nominations.
A council document said: “The establishment of a reference group will enable Aboriginal people to be involved in the planning and decision-making at the local government level.”
The primary roles of the reference group include acting as a conduit between council and the broader Aboriginal community, ensuring communication with key representatives of the local Aboriginal community and providing information, guidance and strategic advice.
Council will call for expressions of interest from the community to join the reference group, with individuals and groups welcome to join.
It is expected five to seven members will make up the new group.
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