The Draft Council Plan 2021-2025 (Draft Plan) was endorsed by Council at its meeting last night (Tuesday 27 April) and is now on public exhibition for community feedback.
The Draft Plan features the priority initiatives and actions for Council services, infrastructure and advocacy to be provided to the Golden Plains Shire community over the next four years.
The Draft Plan directly addresses and aligns with the Themes of the Golden Plains Community Vision 2040: Community, Liveability, Sustainability and Prosperity; with the additional theme of Leadership added to represent the Council-specific regulatory, governance, leadership and advocacy activities required to achieve outcomes for the community. With the overarching direction of the Vision, the Draft Plan details Council’s commitment over the next four years to support the achievement of the community’s 20-year strategic plan for Golden Plains.
The Draft Council Plan has been developed in accordance with the Strategic Planning Principles of the Local Government Act 2020, and details 21 Strategic Objectives, with 83 key actions for delivery during the Council term.
Council’s Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan, required under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008, has been incorporated into the Draft Council Plan 2021-2025 and reflects the important role Council has in supporting the health and wellbeing of all people living in the Golden Plains.
Mayor Cr Helena Kirby encouraged all Golden Plains residents to share their views on the Draft Council Plan 2021-2025.
“During the Council election last year, we heard from residents that they wanted strong engagement and a clear understanding of Council’s direction and commitments. This Plan delivers this with the inclusion of some great ideas and valuable feedback on important priorities for the next four years that we heard through Conversation Posts and in the community survey,
“The Draft Council Plan 2021-2025 has been developed to align with the Themes of the Community Vision 2040 and has been informed by the community engagement as well as the experience combined with fresh ideas of the Councillor team.
“As a Council, we are proud to endorse the Draft Council Plan 2021-2025 and we look forward to hearing from our communities. The Council Plan is developed just once every four years and we encourage all residents to read the Draft Plan, stop by and speak with your Councillors at a Conversation Post, and share your feedback in a submission to Council.”
Have Your Say on the Draft Council Plan 2021-2025
The Draft Plan is available at Council’s website here; with paper copies available at Council’s Customer Service Centres: 2 Pope Street, Bannockburn and The Well, 19 Heales Street, Smythesdale.
Golden Plains Shire Councillors will be available to talk to residents about the Draft Council Plan 2021-2025 and the Draft Council Budget 2021-2022 at community engagement events in May. There is a Councillor Conversation Post at the Golden Plains Farmers’ Market in Bannockburn on Saturday 1 May, 8.30am to 12.30pm; and a Coffee with your Councillors day on Saturday 8 May, with Councillors visiting nine townships: Scarsdale, Smythesdale, Garibaldi, Dereel, Enfield, Rokewood, Shelford, Murgheboluc and Batesford.
Written submissions on the Draft Council Plan 2021-2025 can be lodged by Wednesday 26 May via:
- Email to [email protected];
- Mail to Golden Plains Shire Council, PO Box 111, Bannockburn, VIC, 3331, marked ‘Attention: Council Plan’;
- Dropping paper submissions at a Council Service Centre; or
- Completing a digital submission at Council’s website: goldenplains.vic.gov.au/consultations
All submitters may request to speak to their submission on the Draft Council Plan 2021-2025 or the Draft Budget 2021-2022 at a Special Meeting of Council at the Golden Plains Civic Centre, 2 Pope Street, Bannockburn on Tuesday 8 June.
All submissions on the Draft Plan will be considered by Council, with the final Council Plan 2021-2025 to be presented to Council for adoption at its meeting on 22 June 2021. Following adoption, the Council Plan is provided to the Minister for Local Government, as required by the Local Government Act 2020. In the interests of transparency and accountability, Council is committed to regularly monitoring and reporting progress on the Council Plan 2021-2025 through measurement of the Strategic Indicators contained in the Council Plan, via Council’s Annual Report and through quarterly progress reports to an open Council Meeting.
The Draft Council Plan 2021-2025 has been developed following extensive deliberative community engagement. In January and February, Council opened a community survey and held conversation posts online and in 12 townships across the Shire: Rokewood, Bannockburn, Smythesdale, Haddon, Linton, Ross Creek, Meredith, Cape Clear, Napoleons, Inverleigh, Teesdale and Lethbridge. A total of 219 written responses were received from residents, building upon the contributions of 534 community members on the Golden Plains Community Vision 2040, adopted by Council in December 2020.