Belgrave and Tecoma Township Group (BTTG) is one of many Township Groups throughout the Dandenong Ranges working to make their townships a better place to live and work.

Our vision is for a connected community, developing a vibrant and sustainable future built on the foundations of our distinct heritage, natural environment and emerging opportunities.

To provide a voice for community feedback to the Council on future plans for the Belgrave and Tecoma area.

To support Council and local Councillors in providing information on local planning and development to the community.

To aid and support improvement of the community’s social health, well-being and function.

To facilitate members learning from each other, sharing interests and experiences, supporting each other and to inspire and be inspired.

To identify local needs or objectives, take action, and through this process develop cooperative and collaborative practices within our community.

To develop capacity in the community by providing a platform for making it more focussed and aware of its needs.

To focus on long-term and short-term change through direct action and the organizing of our community.

To provide a forum for discussion of significant planning applications that affect the immediate or wider community.

To build relationships and work with other local groups and organisations for the betterment of the community and environment

To raise funds to make improvements to the community and environment.

To hold events to bring the community together, to create a sense of belonging in the community, to have fun and make friends.

To be the leading influencer for creating a comprehensively sustainable community.

Respect

We value the inherent worth, dignity, diversity, and abilities of all individuals, families and groups in our community. By working together with people, we create improved conditions for all.

Equity and inclusion

We value fairness and justice and believe that we must strive to reduce inequities in the community. We value the diversity within communities and their contributions.

Meaningful participation

We value inclusive participation meaningful to all people in decisions that affect their lives; we believe that this is fundamental to a strong community. We will make efforts to include people who are least heard, to participate in a meaningful way, in decisions that affect their lives.

Heritage

Preserving and communicating our shared history and heritage increases our capacity to balance today’s needs with the long-term interests of future generations and is time invested in the community’s future.

Fun

Above all, we believe that community participation should be fun.

Meaningful process

We believe that community development and change begins with individual people and that they must have hope that things will change through collective action. We believe that community development is an on-going, dynamic process of social change that can lead to sustained improvement in people’s lives.

Integrity

We value honesty and transparency of our intent and priorities and believe that we must demonstrate our accountability to all with whom we work. Integrity is our commitment to act in ways that enhance, and to not detract from, community values.

Strengths based assets and collaboration

We value building on the local strengths and assets of the community to achieve a local vision. We value working together with other individuals, organisations and partners within or across communities.