Conjola Memorial Process Update

We are pleased to provide an update on the process for establishing a memorial/commemorative feature in the Conjola area for the 2019/20 Black Summer bushfires. As directed by Council, staff have worked with the Australian Red Cross and an independent disaster recovery expert to design a process aligned with contemporary, best-practice approaches to memorials.

To develop the process, staff researched academic literature, memorial responses of Councils in Victoria to the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires and consulted with subject matter experts. This best practice process was endorsed by Council during the Ordinary Council Meeting on 20 May 2024.

MIN24.280 reads:

1. Accept the Conjola Park – Best Practice Approach to Establishing a Memorial Outcome report for information regarding best practice approaches to establishing a memorial outcome in the aftermath of natural disaster events.
2. Endorse the proposed memorial process as outlined in the Proposed Process section of the Conjola Park – Best Practice Approach to Establishing a Memorial Outcome report.
3. Direct the Chief Executive Officer (Director – City Lifestyles) to:
   1. Commence Stage 1 of the proposed process (at part 2 of this resolution), to establish a Working Group that will:
      1. Establish the level of community support for a memorial outcome commemorating the 2019/20 Black Summer bushfires as Conjola Park, and;
      2. Remain actively involved throughout the proposed process (as at part 2 of this resolution).

2. Progress to subsequent stages (pending completion of Stage 1) and prepare a future report to Council at the completion of Stage 3.

The next step in this process is to commence Stage 1 by establishing a Working Group. We will soon issue a call for expressions of interest to form this group. A panel will carefully consider all submissions to determine the membership of the working group. Further details will be provided in a future update.

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