What can we expect from the Council Plan?

GOLDEN Plains Shire councilors are currently drawing up the 2021-2025 Council and Municipal Health and Wellbeing Plan and encouraging residents to help inform the creation of the document.

Building on the pillars of community, liveability, prosperity and sustainability, which came out of 2020’s community vision process, councilors will be drawing up the plan over the next month with assistance from community input.

Former mayor Cr Owen Sharkey said this time around he has a far greater appreciation for the Council Plan and is aware of the importance of getting it right.

“Some of the things I campaigned for and will be looking to follow on include still maintaining a rates system that suits ratepayers and acknowledging the impacts of climate change on us as a council,” he said.

“Also, putting more of an emphasis on Aboriginal recognition, I think that’s something we haven’t been up to scratch on in the past and is something that resonated with me because of my personal beliefs and while campaigning, people telling me we weren’t doing enough.

“I’d personally also like to see a youth council set up during our term to give our youth something to aspire towards and to invest in future leaders in Golden Plains.”

Having endured all the challenges of COVID-19, Cr Sharkey said there were a lot of positive learnt by both council and residents that can be taken into the next term.

“Continuing to use the likes of Zoom and just IT progression in general is something that’s really positive,” he said.

“The other big lesson I don’t want to forget either is that we shouldn’t be afraid of making big decisions that are for the better of things.

“Also, making sure we strongly advocate for public transport including trains and buses around the Geelong and Ballarat regions as well as recognising we are one of the fastest growing councils in Victoria so we should ensure that economic development is in the plan as well.”

New councilor Brett Cunningham said for his first term serving the Golden Plains Shire he’s looking forward to following through on his campaign promises to re-connect residents with the council.

“When we were campaigning, we talked to residents about consultation and the feedback that I was getting was that the community consultation that has been undertaken was simply a token,” he said.

“I’m hoping that with a new group of councillors working together, it’s time for residents, especially those who may be a little bit disconnected, to allow the opportunity for council to connect with them through community consultation.

“We’re going to increase the amount of consultation that we’re going to be doing so there’s more opportunities… the only way we can know of issues is if people contact us and hopefully we can come to a positive outcome.”

Having last year worked on the Shire’s 2040 Community Vision, Lindy Allinson one of the Golden Plains Shire’s Reference Group members said she hopes the 2021-2025 plan addresses some of the community’s concerns.

Things that came up during the 2040 Community Vision include decentralising the Shire away from Bannockburn, putting more emphasis on arts and culture, preserving the natural environment and protection from over development.

“The community is really concerned about over density at the moment, making the properties too small, they want large blocks because that offers them a high quality of life,” she said.

Although Ms Allinson said she’s intending to submit further ideas, she hopes the councilors consider the Reference Group’s hard work in putting together the Vision when planning.

“The Community Vision was meant to be the base of every council decision from now until 2040, they were meant to keep that as a bible that will refer back to,” she said.

“I would be encouraging people to input in the plan and I’ll be mentioning that to a variety of locals I come across because I strongly believe you have to create the community you want to live in.”

Input on the 2021-2025 Council Plan can be submitted through a survey in February’s Gazette or on the Shire’s Have Your Say website, by filling out a Council Plan postcard or through attending the Online Conversation Post on 10 February.

Although Cr Sharkey said the Shire have already registered a strong response from the community, it’s important for everyone to be represented.

“Getting your point into the plan, you have the power to help guide council, especially when problems arise, your words will have to guide their decisions,” he said.

Cr Cunningham added, “I’m hoping that with there being a new council working well together that the community will afford opportunities to come and have a chat to us and start fresh.”

Openings for submissions are open until 12 February and information on the Council Plan 2021-2025 can be found at goldenplains.vic.gov.au.