Mid-2024, you may have provided feedback in a survey about the financial management of the Shire that helped to inform the current Financial Vision.

We are now developing the new Council Plan 2025–2029. To ensure there is community input, we have brought together a Deliberative Engagement Panel made up of community members from across the Shire.

To complement this work and ensure a broad spectrum of community voices are heard, we have developed a survey to seek community input into which Council services and amenities you value and would prioritise.

Hard copy surveys are available upon request at Council’s libraries and hubs.

Surveys are open from Tuesday 8 April to Sunday 27 April 2025.

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.

Expressions of interest closed midnight Wednesday 26 February 2025. Thank you to those who applied. Successful applicants informed by 28 February 2025.

DEP sessions will be held:

• Session 1: Thursday 20 March 6 pm - 8:30 pm online
• Session 2: Sunday 30 March 10 am - 2 pm – The Mechanics Trentham
• Session 3: Thursday 10 April 6 pm - 8:30 pm online
• Session 4: Sunday 13 April 10 am - 2 pm – Creswick Senior Citizens

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.