Brighton Releases Vision for Next 30 Years

Brighton Council has released a 30-year vision for the future of the municipality, with its population expected to double over that time.

The vision for the future was developed following broad consultation with the local community and will set the scene for the renewal of Council’s long-term financial plan and 10-year asset plan. It was adopted at Council’s January meeting.

The 2050 Vision sets out the community’s shared hopes and goals for the next three decades as Brighton Municipality’s current population is estimated to double from the current 18,000 to up to 36,000 people.

At the same time, more than $1 billion is expected to be invested in industrial and commercial developments, on top of government projects such as the replacement Bridgewater Bridge and the new Brighton High School. Council total annual revenue expected to grow to $56 million and expenditure about $1 million less than this.

Brighton Council General Manager James Dryburgh says the 2050 Vision is a bold statement of the community’s collective aspirations for the future of the dynamic municipality.

“By imagining how Brighton could be in 2050, we have set ourselves on the path to making it happen, beginning immediately,” Dryburgh said.

The document was developed through a broad community consultation process over several months with hundreds of local residents, businesses, visitors and other stakeholders.

Dryburgh said that process showed the community wanted the council to focus on six key areas, captured under the Vision headings of: a Thriving Place, Proud Community, Good Life at every Stage, Comfortable Home, Caring Council and a Sustainable Environment.

“Each focus area contains a number of recommended actions that will guide the work of the council, together with the community, over the coming years in order to make the Vision a reality,” Dryburgh explained.

“The Vision will help us deliver long-term goals for the benefit of the entire community. Brighton is a rapidly growing municipality and it is heartening the community has a shared vision to move in such an exciting, progressive and sustainable direction over the coming decades.

“Because Brighton Council has a lead role to play in delivering the Vision, the content focuses on issues which council can shape and influence,” he said.

In developing the Vision, Council consulted with more than 700 people between August 2020 and October 2020, including through an online survey, workshops, forums and telephone discussions.