Hepburn Shire Council is launching Hepburn Together 2025-2029, a major strategic planning project that will shape our community’s future.

As part of this project, we are developing the following key strategic plans, as required under the Local Government Act 2020:

• 10-Year Community Vision
• 4-Year Council Plan (including the Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan)
• 10-Year Financial and Asset Plans
• 4-Year Revenue and Rating Plan

We’ve already engaged extensively with the community through the Financial Vision and Future Hepburn projects, which helped us understand broad community priorities. Now, we are taking the next step.

We are forming a Deliberative Engagement Panel (DEP) of 44 members to help prioritise and refine our priorities and objectives before sharing draft documents with the wider community for feedback.

This is a key opportunity to shape the future of Hepburn together. By working in partnership, we can ensure our strategic direction reflects the needs, aspirations, and priorities of our community.

Council is seeking expressions of interest (EOI) from community members to join a DEP. The DEP is a community engagement method that brings together a diverse group of people to discuss and deliberate on specific issues, policies, or decisions. The goal is to foster informed, thoughtful discussions where participants can explore different viewpoints, weigh evidence, and collaborate to reach shared understanding or recommendations.

The EOI will open on 3 February and close 24 February 2025. Successful applicants informed by 28 February 2025.

Complete the EOI form below.

DEP sessions will be held:

Session 1: Wednesday 12 March online 6.00m - 8.30pm

Session 2: Sunday 16 March in person 10.00am - 2.00pm (Trentham or Clunes TBC)

Session 3: Wednesday 26 March online 6.00pm - 8.30pm

Session 4: Sunday 13 April in person 10.00am - 2.00pm (Trentham or Clunes TBC)

Online sessions will be conducted using the program 'Zoom' where a device that has access to the internet, a camera and a microphone is required (for example a mobile phone, tablet or laptop).

In-person sessions will be conducted in Trentham and Clunes, and participants will be required to arrange their own transportation to the venues. A mobile phone or tablet will be required to access an online program during the session. Panel members with no access to a device will be invited to participate by attending the Council Chambers at 24 Vincent Street in Daylesford.

Panel members will receive a certificate of appreciation and a voucher for $100 for attending all four workshops.