Submissions closing on borough plans

BOROUGH of Queenscliffe residents have until tomorrow to have their say on two strategic plans to guide the council’s direction for the next four to 10 years.

The borough’s Draft Council Plan 2021-25 and Draft Financial Plan 2021-2031 are both on exhibition and the community can provide feedback until 12 noon tomorrow, October 15.

The council explains that its draft council plan will “not address all the things that council does, but it will reflect the major challenges facing council and community over the next four years”.

The Council Plan will guide decisions about policy, programs, services, resources and performance. It will be supported by an annual action plan and budget.

In his message to the community, mayor Ross Ebels says the plan has been developed in partnership “with a large and diverse cross-section of our community, this Council Plan will help council meet the goals set in the community vision and outlines the focus of our work for the coming council term”.

“Across five portfolio areas of health and wellbeing; environment; local economy; heritage, planning and infrastructure; and governance and finance, this plan both builds on the work of previous councils while adapting to and addressing the challenges we face in a changing world,” Cr Ebbels said.

The 10-year financial plan is a requirement of the Local Government Act 2020 and aims to provide “stability, predictability and establish a framework for the effective mitigation and management of strategic financial risk”.

The plan aims to show how the council will achieve and maintain viability and financial sustainability over the decade ahead.

Both documents can be viewed on the borough’s website and submissions can be emailed to [email protected] or delivered to 50 Learmonth Street, Queenscliffe.