More than 50 residents attended the meeting at the Marulan Community Hall to share their ideas for the town’s future.

This first meeting, one in a series of planned community discussions over the next few months, was facilitated by an external consultant.

Cr Peter Walker was pleased by the attendance, describing the resident turnout as sensational.

“The Marulan community is passionate about their village and have a clear vision for the next 20 years as they seek to make it an even more attractive place to work, live and visit,” he said.

“The meeting was a fantastic starting point and I look forward to further community discussions as we develop the Village Action Plan.”

The community has identified traffic access to and from the Hume Highway as a key area in making Marulan more attractive to both tourism and drivers wishing to stop for a break. Roads and Maritime Services decided to close southern access off the Hume Highway some years ago. Locals argued advocacy to reopen this access could help drive local industry.

Other ideas and feedback raised on the evening included a need for more facilities for an ageing population, activities and facilities for youth, improved public transport system and better working relationships with the surrounding quarries.

Representatives from the Marulan Region Chamber of Commerce advocated for the progression of existing ideas such as the Heritage and Sustainability Park, and many residents supported the council’s proposed capital works program to improve water and sewerage infrastructure.

The development of a Village Action Plan will form part of the outcomes from the Goulburn Mulwaree Employment Land Strategy, endorsed by the council in December, 2016.

Council staff will now collate the feedback for further discussion with the community, before moving into deeper development of the plan.

Any interested members of the community who were unable to attend the meeting are encouraged to contact the council’s strategic planning team on 4823 4444.