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Information for Candidates

Nominations for the 2024 local council election closed at 12pm on Tuesday 17 September, 2024.

Golden Plains Shire Council is now in the Election Period which will conclude at 6pm, Saturday 26 October, 2024.

The complete list of candidates in ballot draw order will be available on the VEC website from Wednesday 18 September. Visit: vec.vic.gov.au 
 

Information for Candidates
About Golden Plains Shire

Golden Plains Shire Council was established on 6 May 1994, incorporating the former Shires of Bannockburn and Leigh and parts of the former Shires of Grenville and Buninyong.  

Situated between Victoria’s two largest regional cities, Geelong and Ballarat, Golden Plains Shire is a large municipality of 2,705 square kilometres, with a socio-economically diverse population of approximately 25,000 people living in 56 vibrant rural communities, reflecting a population growth of approximately 2.4% per annum.  

Renowned for its award-winning food and wine, community markets, iconic music festivals, rich gold mining history and character, and friendly communities - Golden Plains Shire is an attractive destination to live, visit or socialise.    

Residents value the character of Golden Plains’ small townships and communities, local facilities and services, and natural environment.  Our sweeping landscapes, award-winning businesses and rugged bush landscapes combine with historic townships and growing communities to make for a wonderful place to live, visit or socialise. New residents, particularly young families, are attracted to the area’s rural lifestyle, affordable housing and proximity to the services and jobs available in the Shire, as well as those in Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat and the Surf Coast.  

The Role of a Councillor

The role of a Council is to provide good governance in its municipal district for the benefit and wellbeing of the municipal community (Local Government Act 2020 s8(1)).

An elected Council sets the overall direction for the municipality through long-term planning and decision making. It envisions the desired future for its community and develops plans and policies to achieve these goals.  

Key tasks include:

  • Decision making
  • Representing the interests of the municipal community  
  • Setting the strategic direction of Council (including Council Plan)
  • Planning & Monitoring achievement
  • Policy Development  
  • Lobbying  & Advocacy  

Resources: 

Nominating

Nominations for the 2024 local council election closed at 12pm on Tuesday 17 September, 2024.

Golden Plains Shire Council is now in the Election Period which will conclude at 6pm, Saturday 26 October, 2024.

The complete list of candidates in ballot draw order will be available on the VEC website from Wednesday 18 September. Visit: vec.vic.gov.au 

Candidate Training

The candidate training – introduced in the Local Government Act 2020 – has been updated by Local Government Victoria to better equip and prepare candidates who are prospective first-term councillors. The training will help candidates understand the role of a councillor and what it requires before nominating. The training also serves as a refresher for more experienced councillors.

All candidates in any council election in Victoria are required to complete the mandatory online Local Government Candidate Training. All candidates must also declare to the Victorian Electoral Committee (VEC) when they have completed the training in order to nominate.

The online Candidate Training is available to complete now on the Local Government Victoria website and takes around one hour to complete. 

Campaigning

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Council Induction

If you are successful, you will be required to participate in a full induction program.  

Many elements of the Councilor Induction Program are mandated by the Local Government Act 2020.

The induction program is scheduled to run between 18 November 2024 and 17 December 2024 and will re-commence on 20 January 2025. Councillor attendance at induction sessions is mandatory and additional sessions may be added as necessary. 

Council Meetings, Briefings & Strategic Planning Sessions

As part of the Councillor’s role, Councillors commit to attending Councillor Briefings, Council Meetings and Strategic Planning Sessions each month between February and December, detailed as follows:

  • Councillor briefings are held from 9am to 5pm on the 3rd Tuesday of each month and 2nd Tuesday in December.  
  • Council meetings are held on the 4th Tuesday of the month and 3rd Tuesday in December. Council meetings commence at 6pm and can vary in duration. Councillors will be required to be present, in person by 5pm. Meeting agendas are distributed to Councillors in the week prior to each meeting and require approximately 4-5 hours reading time.  
  • Strategic Planning Sessions are held from 6pm to 8pm on the 1st Tuesday of each month.
  • The Council Meeting to Elect the Mayor and Deputy Mayor will be held at an unscheduled meeting to be called.  
  • The first standard Council Meeting will be held on Tuesday 26 November at 6pm.  
  • Council Meetings
  • Previous livestreams of Council Meetings
Need More Information

If candidates need more information, or have any questions about the upcoming election, or local government more generally, the following contacts may be useful: