In late 2019 Blayney Shire Council engaged Creative Plus Business as consultants to create a finished business plan for the Platform project, a disused railway station and grounds in the town of Blayney that is owned by Sydney Trains. The goal is to turn the buildings and grounds into local community arts space.
The Creative Plus Business Team approached the business planning process from multiple angles. We personally interviewed ten key individuals from the region, including Mayor Scott Ferguson, and conducted two community surveys online. We then facilitated a charrette with twenty participants and examined the challenges of purpose, funding, governance, risk management, and community and visitor engagement.
After extensive additional research and financial modelling, the final business plan for Platform was delivered in November 2019. The process served to inspire enthusiastic engagement from the local community, and Council expects to use the business case to support grant and funding applications. Sydney Trains has also committed to supporting the Platform project for the foreseeable future.
