Residents, business owners and Port Macquarie-Hastings Council staff have attended a Laurieton Town Centre Master Plan Forum to decide the future direction of the town.
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The forum was hosted by Laurieton Town Centre Master Plan Steering Group at the Laurieton United Services Club on November 12.
Around 50 people attended in person while a council online live-stream collected more than 1400 views.
Priorities for the town's growth were discussed including works on the main street, memorial park, the river foreshore and associated connections.
Camden Haven Chamber of Commerce committee member Greg Mitchell, who spoke at the forum, said the gathering was positive and everyone is keen to move ahead.
"The meeting went really well and there was a good cross-section of the community in the audience," Mr Mitchell said.
"An enquiry by design has been put forward to formulate the master plan concepts. That's happening in early December and the details of that enquiry will be on the council website. It will involve a four hour-a-day workshop to formulate the concepts for the master plan."
Mr Mitchell said there is a process in place to design the master plan by June 2021 and that final design will likely be a collaboration between the council and the community.
"I think progress was made and there was full support from the community. The council engaged and were positive, it was a real step forward in the right direction," he said.
"It's not just a dream anymore, it's going to happen and it's going to happen by June 2021.
"It's imperative that we make things happen and turn the town around. We are looking to end up with a town people want to enjoy with a vibrant local economy.
"Our vision is to build a thriving, viable, well designed town centre, activate private and public investment maintaining a connection to environment and heritage, be a catalyst to revitalise retail and create a people-friendly destination."
Council has allocated $100,000 to the development of the Laurieton Town Centre Master Plan.
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