General News
6 April, 2024
A positive move for an age-friendly city
With more than a quarter of current residents aged 60 years or older and the average age continuing to trend upwards, Horsham Rural City Council is seeking feedback on its proposed Age Friendly Plan.
Council voted unanimously at last week's meeting to release a draft of the Age Friendly Plan 2024-27 for public comment.
“Horsham Rural City has a total population of approximately 20,500 people with some 5746 of these aged 60 or over, representing 28 per cent of the overall population,” director of corporate services Kim Hargreaves said in her report to councillors.
“Council needs an Age Friendly Plan to ensure we develop and deliver inclusive and accessible projects, services and facilities and continue to develop an age-friendly community.”
Referring to Horsham’s “significant proportion” of older residents, Cr David Bowe said the data highlighted “the urgency and the importance of adopting a forward-thinking approach to the aging community – one that ensures that our seniors not only live but thrive”.
“Together, let’s embrace this opportunity to make Horsham not just a place to grow old but a place to live well, ensuring our community is a beacon of age-friendliness where everyone can say with pride ‘I am respected, I’m valued and I belong’,” Cr Bowe said.
'Let’s embrace this opportunity to make Horsham not just a place to grow old but a place to live well
David Bowe
The new document is a renewal of the Age Friendly Communities Implementation Plan adopted by HRCC in 2019 and addresses six themes: outdoor spaces and buildings, transport, housing, respect and social inclusion, civic participation, communication and information.
It is designed to assist council to celebrate older people as valuable members of the community; communicate and engage with this age-group in an appropriate way; ensure accessibility of infrastructure such as buildings, paths and crossings; provide a diverse range of activities and events for all ages; and support employment and volunteering opportunities.
In developing the plan, council staff collaborated with community members between August and November last year, assisted by Horsham Rural City’s Older Persons Advisory Committee.
In total, 197 opinions were harvested via an online survey, face-to-face conversations, focus groups and workshops with Horsham U3A, Horsham Combined Probus Club and Horsham Church of Christ seniors group Upper Class.
Cr Les Power said there were more than 5000 residents in the target demographic.
“It is a shame that for some reason – and one of those reasons would be electronic media – people over the age of 60… would have difficulty in having a voice in this plan,” Cr Power said.
“Hopefully, when it goes out to the community now, other people will have the opportunity to be able to get a paper copy and read through it and give their opinions of it.
“Unfortunately, there’s more than 25 per cent of our community here over the age of 60 that did not grow up with a laptop, a computer or a mobile phone.”
The plan is available for viewing electronically on council’s website and in hard copy at the office in Roberts Avenue, Horsham.
Written submissions on the plan’s content can be made until 5pm on April 24.