Council’s general manager Vic North said this project would have an effect on the whole community.

“In the past individual agencies had addressed such problems but had not been successful in overcoming them.”

“So now a wider approach has been taken,” he said.

Mr North said the project recognises that a whole of community approach is needed, where there is a shared one vision incorporating a strategic approach.

“I believe Walgett is ready to solve these problems from within the community rather than having outside forces dealing with it,” he said.

“Money has been made available by the State Government to provide funding to recruit someone at a senior level to facilitate a crime prevention plan,” Mr North said.

“We want to integrate the various groups previously dealing with these issues into one body.”

Mr North said the new facilitator would report to a reference group to be made up of Aboriginal representatives, the business sector and members of the shire council.

“We have received funding for a two year period and are looking at achieving positive outcomes,” he said.

Five parties signed the memorandum of understanding, including a representative from the Premier’s Department, Murdi Paaki Regional Council, Walgett Community Working Party, Walgett Advancement Association, and the Mayor of Walgett, Peter Waterford.

Mr North said Walgett is the first out of the five towns involved in the project to start.

“At a later stage we will be discussing what the similarities and differences are between each community,” he said.

“We are very optimistic that this will work, but we need to ensure we recruit the right person for the job.”

We understand that these issues will not be resolved overnight, but every little step counts towards the end result, he said.