The Victorian Local Government sector is facing financial challenges due to increased costs of service delivery, inflation, limited revenue resources and recovery from natural disasters. At Hepburn Shire, our financial environment as with others, has been impacted by rising inflation and costs in the delivery of services, infrastructure delivery, cost shifting from other levels of government, and costs associated with recovery from recent flooding and storm events. Multiple years of State Government prescribed rate cap below inflation has also had a negative impact on our financial sustainability. We have limited opportunities for alternate income streams.

Council is committed to transparency and accountability when delivering on our financial strategy and the delivery of our services. In the 2024/25 budget, Council has committed to making $1.5 million in operating savings and is now committing to working with community and Councillors to ensure our long-term financial viability.

In 2025/26, Council needs to find an additional $4 million in long-term savings or additional revenue to develop a financially responsible plan that delivers on our shared Community Vision.

We need your help to understand your priorities in service delivery, and your appetite for a percentage rate increase to ensure Council continues to be able to deliver the level of current services. We would also like to know more about your thoughts on the management of our buildings and infrastructure.

The information you provide will assist us to prepare our Financial Vision and make decisions about Hepburn Shire Council's financial sustainability.

You can participate by:

• Read through the resources that have been developed to support your engagement in the Financial Vision project. These resources include:
  • Council Service Catalogue: Provides detailed information about what and how Council delivers services and associated costs.
  • Service Map: Gives an overview of the services delivered to community and how they are connected.
  • Rates Information Sheet: A short fact sheet explaining how rates work, the impact of property valuations and rate cap system.
• Attending a Community Drop-in Session where you can chat with the Finance team. Other Council Officers will be on hand to support your submission:
  • Creswick: Friday 5 July from 4:30pm to 7:30pm at the Creswick Town Hall
  • Clunes: Saturday 6 July from 9:30am to 12:30pm at Clunes Library, Ulumbarra Room on ground floor
  • Glenlyon: Monday 8 July from 4:30pm to 7:30pm at Glenlyon Shire Hall
  • Daylesford: Thursday 11 July from 5:00pm to 8:00pm at Daylesford Town Hall
  • Trentham: Friday 12 July from 4:30pm to 7:30pm at Mechanics Trentham
• Make a submission and share your thoughts. Submissions are in two parts and can be made from 1 July to 17 July 2024. A short how-to video is included on the Submission page. Click on the red button below to start making your submission.
  • You can complete the form here on this project page online using your phone or home computer.
  • Printable Submission Forms are available if you would prefer to write your submission. They are located in the Document Library on this page. Please request one from Council on 5321 2306 or visit one of our Hubs.
• Try out one of our new Engagement Stations! Visit one of our libraries, or the Daylesford Customer Experience Hub, and use the Engagement Stations to make an online submission. Staff members are ready to assist should you need help.

Sharing this link and encouraging people to get involved is greatly appreciated! When we present the results, we will review them as they come in, along with the results from a single IP address.

Council is committed to a transparent and unbiased selection process and encourage all community members to share their thoughts.

Council will use this feedback, along with the other information, to guide the development of the Financial Vision - our Long-Term Financial Plan. This engagement is only the beginning. We will have many more conversations with our community as we move towards the development of a new Council Plan in 2025.