Council adopts Advocacy Statement

Published on 16 February 2022

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Council adopted an Advocacy Statement at its meeting last night. The statement aligns with the recently adopted Community Vision 2021-2031 and Council Plan 2021-2025, and includes key advocacy projects, in addition to shovel-ready projects.

Mayor, Cr Tim Drylie, said that this advocacy document is particularly important to support Council’s lobbying efforts as we enter into an election cycle of both State and Federal Governments within the next 12 months, and in the lead up to the upcoming budget.

“This is a living document and will be updated on a regular basis to ensure it reflects projects identified during strategic work being completed in relation to key outcomes of the Council Plan including the Aquatics Strategy, Hepburn Settlement Strategy and Sustainable Hepburn,” said Cr Drylie.

“The document contains key projects with estimated costs that we can take to funding bodies as we lobby for investment in our Shire by both levels of government on behalf of our community,” he said.

The projects included in the Advocacy Statement were originally identified as part of previous community engagement activities, including the development of masterplans, council plans and strategies.

Further key advocacy projects will be identified and considered for inclusion resulting from current and future strategies Read the Advocacy Statement(PDF, 3MB). Initiatives and projects are separated across five focus areas.

Focus area: A resilient, sustainable and protected environment:

  • Sustainable Hepburn
  • Western Victoria Transmission Network Project
  • Net zero emissions

Focus area: A healthy, supported and empowered community:

  • Affordable housing
  • Aquatic facilities
  • Upgrade to Daylesford Hospital
  • Hepburn Shire transport connections.

Focus area: Embracing our past and planning for the future:

  • Hepburn Settlement Strategy phase one
  • Clunes Town Hall and Police Courthouse stage two
  • Recreation Reserve masterplan recommendations
  • Glenlyon Recreation Reserve pavilion.

Focus area: Diverse economy and opportunities:

  • Daylesford to Hanging Rock Rail Trail
  • Spa Country Railway – planning and design for extension of rail service
  • Activation of Hepburn Shire trails • Mineral Springs Reserve development
  • Streetscape improvements of major towns
  • Replacement of Wheelers Bridge in Lawrence
  • Institute of Gastronomy in Daylesford
  • Access to secondary education in the west of the Shire.

Focus area: A dynamic and responsive council:

  • Infrastructure maintenance and renewal funding
  • Shared services with other councils.

 

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