Councillors receive update on Council Plan

THE incumbent group of Surf Coast Shire councillors have received the final report on their Council Plan before the local council elections.

At their meeting on Monday this week, councillors resolved to note the Progress Report for the end of year three in the Council Plan 2021-25.

Speaking at the meeting, Cr Libby Stapleton said she appreciated the biannual updates from officers.

“It was always an ambitious plan and I acknowledge that we set our sights high with 19 strategies across seven themes, in a bid to contribute as best we could to the Community Vision for the shire, which provides the overall direction for the actions outlined in this report.”

The seven themes are First Nations Reconciliation, Healthy Connected Communities, Environmental Leadership, Sustainable Growth, Diverse and Robust Economy, Arts and Creativity, and Accountable and Viable Council.

Cr Stapleton said the plan’s Community Vision – “From the hinterland to the coast, from the first peoples to the children of the future, we are an active, diverse community that lives creatively to value, protect and enhance the natural environment and our unique neighbourhoods. We will leave the Surf Coast better than we found it” – was aspirational and provided direction to the council.

“This vision, developed by community, does not suggest councils should stick to the basics of roads, rates and rubbish.

“Of course, these things are essential as part of [the] council’s overall purpose, but the [Community] Vision and Council Plan go further to capture the broader roles of local government, which is now mandated through state legislation to address things like climate change, community health and wellbeing, and gender equity across our policies, services and programs.”

Cr Rose Hodge noted the shire had built or planned to build many infrastructure projects over the years, including the coming Surf Coast Aquatic and Health Centre, and been particularly good at advocating for funding from state and federal governments to make these happen.

To read the Council Plan 2021-25, head to surfcoast.vic.gov.au/About-us/Council/Policies-plans-strategies-and-reports/Council-Plan