Hepburn Shire launches new Hepburn Together project

Published on 18 January 2021

Hepburn Shire Council logo

Hepburn Shire Council has launched ‘Hepburn Together’, a new major strategic planning project which will shape the shire's future.

Hepburn Shire Council CEO Evan King said that Council was looking forward to working with the community on this important project and the launch of our new modern engagement platform, Participate Hepburn.

Hepburn Shire Council Mayor Cr Lesley Hewitt said the Hepburn Together project will develop the 10-year Council Vision, 4-year Council Plan, 10-year Financial Plan and Asset Plans, as well as the new Community Engagement Policy.

“I am very pleased to announce the beginning of Hepburn Together and, with my fellow Councillors, look forward to working with the community to shape the future of our Shire.

“This project will build a comprehensive understanding of what our community wants - its aspirations, strengths, ideas, priorities and challenges,” said Cr Hewitt.

“With this knowledge, we can then formulate these important documents that will define our priorities into the future and deliver the open, transparent and responsive decision making the community expects.

“We are absolutely committed to working in partnership with the community to develop a shared vision of what we want to be, what we want to do and what our Shire will look like in the future.

“We have such an engaged, creative and knowledgeable community and I am confident many will take the opportunity to get involved and contribute to the future of our Shire.”

Hepburn Shire Council has developed a new engagement website - participate.hepburn.vic.gov.au – where all the information the community needs will be accessible.

Cr Hewitt said the new engagement website has a project overview, timelines for when the community will be involved, background information and, as the project develops, it will be where the community can find surveys, event details and more.

“I encourage everyone to visit the new website, have a read of what we have in store and start thinking about what you want your Shire to be, and how you want Council to engage with the community and make decisions.

“The new Community Engagement Policy is the first document we will work with the community to develop and your input is vital in ensuring it is the best policy it can be.

“This policy will set the tone for when and how we engage with the community, what level of decision making the community will have and it will apply to all strategies, plans and projects that need community input.

“We will very soon be calling for your input into this policy, so please visit the new website and take a look at the information there.”

For more information, visit participate.hepburn.vic.gov.au or email hepburntogether@hepburn.vic.gov.au.

We will be holding a number of community pop-up sessions to get community ideas.

Friday 29 January

Clunes Pop-up

Location: Outside The Warehouse – Clunes

Time: 3:30pm - 6:30pm

Saturday 30 January

Creswick Pop-up

Location: IGA park

Time: 8:30am - 11:30am

Daylesford Pop-up

Location: Coles Walkway

Time: 2:00pm - 5:00pm

Sunday 31 January

Glenlyon Pop-up

Location: Glenlyon General Store

Time: 8:30am - 11:30am

Trentham Pop-up

Location: Trentham Town Square

Time: 2:00pm - 5:00pm

Tuesday 2 February

Daylesford

Pop-up Location: Daylesford Town Hall

Time: 4:00pm - 6:00pm

Wednesday 3 February

Creswick Pop-up

Location: Creswick Hub

Time: 4:00pm - 6:00pm

Trentham Pop-up

Location: Trentham Library

Time: 4:00pm - 6:00pm

Thursday 4 February

Clunes Pop-up

Location: The Warehouse – Clunes

Time: 4:00pm - 6:00pm

Glenlyon Pop-up

Location: Glenlyon Hall

Time: 4:00pm - 6:00pm