A public town hall meeting held at Nimbin Town Hall on Sunday 23rd February drew strong community support for the relaunch of the Pan Community Council (PanCom), a regional network connecting intentional and land-sharing communities across the Northern Rivers.
The meeting was called to explore whether there was sufficient interest to revive PanCom as a space for co-operation and knowledge sharing between communities.
More than 35 people attended the gathering, with a further 35+ people sending apologies while asking to remain informed and involved.
Following group discussions and a collective reflection on current challenges facing communities, attendees unanimously voted to restart PanCom.
Almost everyone present also committed to contributing at least one hour per month of volunteer time to help rebuild the network in its early stages.
PanCom historically provided a forum where communities could share experience, learn from one another, and collaborate on shared concerns while maintaining their independence.
Rather than focusing on the past, Sunday’s meeting explored how co-operation between communities might help address present-day realities.
Participants identified a number of common issues, including housing affordability, pathways for younger people to live within communities, governance challenges, and supporting older residents to age in place.
A recurring theme throughout the discussions was the sense that many communities have increasingly operated in isolation from one another, despite facing similar challenges.
Importantly, the meeting was not limited to identifying problems. Several attendees shared practical solutions already being developed within communities, including low-cost, environmentally sustainable housing models such as off-grid tiny homes and co-operative living structures designed to improve affordability and resilience.
There was strong interest in creating opportunities for communities to share these kinds of lived solutions more widely.
PanCom is intended to function as a co-ordination and learning network rather than a governing body or advocacy organisation. Its purpose is to create spaces for conversation, share practical knowledge, and strengthen relationships between communities across the region.
Those involved emphasised that the relaunch is being driven by collective participation rather than any single group or individual.
The strong turnout and level of volunteer commitment suggested a shared desire to reconnect and rebuild co-operation across communities.
The next step will be a social gathering scheduled for Sunday 29th March after the Nimbin Markets (venue TBC), designed to allow participants to connect informally and build relationships before any formal structures are developed.
Work has also begun on establishing a simple website and on-line forum to support ongoing communication and knowledge sharing.
The renewed interest in PanCom reflects a broader recognition that many of the challenges communities face, from housing pressures to ageing populations, are shared across the region.
Participants expressed optimism that reconnecting communities could help strengthen resilience through co-operation and shared learning.
Anyone interested in staying informed about PanCom’s development or future gatherings is encouraged to get in touch via: PanComCouncil@protonmail.com
