Planning Matters

We love living in the Southern Highlands but what is it that makes the character of this place so special?

Share your personal image of the Highlands.

Residents of all ages are invited to explore and celebrate our people, places, landscapes and buildings. We’re looking for images and thoughts which reflect the attributes that contribute to the character of our Southern Highlands.

These will then be used to identify aspirations for the different towns and villages within the Shire and to develop local character statements which the community can consider and hopefully endorse for future planning purposes.

Place a photo or marker on the map and share a story

Take a photo which represents the character of our Shire and then upload it in one of the four pin themes - people, place, landscape or buildings.

Not all of us are photographers so if you'd like to share your thoughts about favourite locations without the hassle of uploading a photo please do so. You'll be helping develop an understanding of the local landmarks and places that are important to our community.

Add your marker and photo in the Photo Competition and Mapping Tool.

Tell us why you love the Southern Highlands in the Stories Tool.

CATEGORIES: Have a think about the questions below and explore ways to depict these in a photograph or share a story about your experiences.

	PEOPLE : Who are the people who live here? What makes them unique? How do people experience their place? What images reflect what life is like here for people?
	PLACE : Can you share an image that illustrates what it’s like to live here on a day-to-day basis? What makes this place a success? What drives businesses and the local economy? Do you have images that reflect how the place has changed over time? What is it like to experience this place, to move around and enjoy it day to day? How does the pattern of roads, blocks and lots impact the qualities of this place?
	LANDSCAPE : What are the qualities of your place? How does the landform, topography, climate, vegetation, creeks and the views influence your perception of the place? How does the landscape change at different times of day / year? What are the key landmarks that define your place? What are the short and long distance views that need to be protected? What spaces are loved by the community?
	BUILDINGS : What buildings and/or landmarks are uniqueto this place and need to be protected? What images reflect the mix and character of local buildings you like? This includes age, use, location, height, materials and building style.