A report to council’s meeting on June 16 stated that as the population in the shire was ageing council should develop a strategy so it is best placed to manage the challenges and opportunities of an ageing population.

Mr Williams, who recently approached council with some concepts for workshops and a forum, has been working with staff to refine the program and provide a link with local service providers and potential speakers for future programs.

It is proposed that a similar, focussed forum to the Social Planning Conference be used to focus on Ageing in the Bega Valley and that this is investigated as the staging platform for the development of an Ageing Strategy for the shire.

This will provide the opportunity to attract expertise on all aspects of ageing to the Bega Valley to better inform the strategy.

Mayor Cr Tony Allen said the idea was to hold a meeting with all the people and organisations who were involved with older people and discuss the issues.

“We will sit down with everybody and see what comes out of it,” he said.

“There is bound to be some common issues which we can address together.”

Currently more than 30 per cent of the shire is aged over 55 years, with the number expected to grow to more than 40 per cent by 2022, making the Bega Valley one of the most rapidly ageing areas in the State.

The ageing of the population will pose key challenges and opportunities and the development of an Ageing Strategy, with a whole of council approach, will enable council to articulate the role it plays, particularly in planning for the needs of current and future generations. It will also be valuable in highlighting the areas of responsibility that fall to other tiers of Government, the community and individuals.

The strategy will also form a key action component of the Council’s Community Strategic Plan which is currently being prepared.