Our Focus
We want Wellington to be a place where people feel part of something - where it’s easy to stay connected, get support when you need it, and feel welcome in the spaces around you.
We know that a strong community is one where people look out for each other, have access to the services that matter to them and feel safe and respected in public life. That’s why we’re focused on supporting health and wellbeing, reducing barriers to participation, and making it easier for people to come together. It all plays a vital role in building a more connected community.
Our Shire is diverse, and we’re working hard to make sure everyone, regardless of age, ability, background or identity, feels included and supported.
This work is grounded in what we’ve heard from the community, guiding how we plan, invest and deliver services over the next four years.
Strategic Indicators
At a Glance...
Major Initiatives and Actions
The Urban Paths Plan (UPP) is a key driver in achieving this Council Plan Action. Implementation is on track, with planning and construction activities progressing as anticipated during the reporting period.
A scheduled review will assess outcomes and provide an updated status report to inform future priorities.
Progress on this action is also supported by reviews and renewals of key infrastructure and boating strategies, delivery of park maintenance and activation programs, and continued investment in community wellbeing initiatives (such as Live4Life and Parks Week) that improve access, encourage movement, and increase use of local places and spaces.
In May 2026, Council was advised by VicHealth that the Partners in Place initiative had been successful in securing five years of funding.
Council is now working closely with VicHealth to establish the foundations of the project, including the development of position descriptions for the newly created CONNECT Project Lead and Project Support roles.
The Wellington Health and Wellbeing Coalition will now focus on identifying priority areas for the first year of the project in consultation with Gunaikurnai people, Ramahyuck, and the broader First Peoples community across Wellington Shire.
In June 2026, the Ramahyuck Board of Directors invited representatives from Council's Community Development Team to present on the initiative. The Board expressed strong support for the project and welcomed the opportunities it presents for collaboration and community outcomes.
The next phase of the project will focus on recruitment, detailed planning, project development, and implementation.
During the April to June quarter, Council continued to carry out a range of community engagement activities to better understand local needs and help inform future decisions.
The projects open for community feedback during the quarter included:
- Draft Budget 2026/27 - Asking the community for feedback on Council's proposed budget and spending priorities.
- Golden Beach Master Plan - Seeking feedback on the draft master plan to help shape the future of this communityopen space.
- Great Southern Rail Trail Master Plan - Gathering feedback from residents and stakeholders to support planning forthis popular tourism and recreation trail.
- Lions Park Master Plan - Inviting community input on the future development of this important recreation area.
- Prince Street Reserve Master Plan - Consulting with the community on the future use and development of thereserve.
- Draft Waste Collection Policy and Guideline - Seeking community feedback on a policy that helps guide the delivery of Council's waste collection service.
Council also gathered participant feedback through targeted surveys and forms, including the Jobs and Careers Fair Feedback Survey, to inform improvements for future events. These activities help ensure community views are considered when planning services, projects and future improvements across the shire.
This quarter has focused on strengthening Wellington Shire's cultural offering through the continued development of performing and visual arts programs, audience engagement initiatives and strategic partnerships.
At The Wedge Performing Arts Centre, work has continued to deliver a diverse and accessible program of performances and community activities, supporting both professional artists and local creative groups. Ongoing venue improvements, programming development and stakeholder engagement have helped maintain The Wedge's role as a key cultural hub for the region.
At the Gippsland Art Gallery, the team has concentrated on exhibition development, collection management and audience engagement, while also progressing plans for future major exhibitions. Significant effort continues to be directed towards securing and developing high-profile exhibition opportunities that will enhance visitation and strengthen the Gallery's reputation as one of regional Victoria's leading cultural destinations.
Across the broader cultural portfolio, the team has remained actively engaged with regional and state networks to identify opportunities for collaboration, cultural events and creative initiatives that support community participation and promote Wellington Shire as a vibrant and connected cultural centre.
Key highlights for the quarter include work undertaken for the follow inginitiatives:
- Digital transformation projects that are designed to enhance customer service delivery, streamline internal processes, and enhance staff productivity across Council operations through use of new technologies.
- Strengthening cybersecurity maturity through continued alignment with the Essential Eight framework, expanded security monitoring capabilities, staff awareness training, and improved incident response readiness to ensure ongoing protection and security of community data. A collaborative joint tender process with East Gippsland Shire Council for a new Geographic Information System was completed and work has commenced to support alignment of business systems, and processes efficiencies for both councils.
- Regional collaboration and shared service opportunities to ensure ongoing capability sharing, and cost efficiencies in ICT service delivery. Council's ICT team has worked collaboratively with the Emergency Management team to install a power generator at Yarram Secondary College, strengthening emergency response capability and community preparedness.
This quarter has seen the submission of the Gender Equality Audit and new Gender Equality Action Plan to the Gender Equality Commission.
Internal training is undertaken on a recurring cycle and includes:
- Cultural Awareness
- Gender Equality
- Prevention of Workplace Bullying and Harassment
- Child Safety
A new e-learning module relating to Gender Impact Assessments (GIAs) which includes the topic of intersectionality is in development.
Monthly Gender Impact Assessment drop-in sessions are also facilitated to build capability and strengthen understanding of gender equality.
During this quarter, an audit against the Child Safety standards has commenced which will include a review of the allocation of cultural awareness training across the organisation.
Since the close of the tender period, the project has continued to progress through a detailed assessment phase during this quarter. Additional due diligence activities, including site reviews, technical evaluations and service demonstrations, have been undertaken to further refine project requirements and confirm the preferred delivery approach.
The project is now in its final stages of assessment, with evaluation outcomes being reviewed and the associated report nearing completion. Procurement activities are also expected to be finalised shortly, positioning the project to move forward to the next phase and enabling works to commence once all approvals and appointment processes are complete.
Despite staffing vacancies and recruitment activity impacting some planned initiatives during the quarter, Council continued to support and recognise community-managed facility committees.
Training and learning opportunities were promoted through the quarterly Community Managed Facilities newsletter, and three volunteer thank you events were successfully delivered in Heyfield, Stratford and Dargo to acknowledge the valuable contribution of volunteers across the municipality.
The new reporting platform, Future Wellington was launched in September 2025, demonstrates a commitment to transparency, accessibility, and community engagement.
This platform serves as a central hub for Council's long-term strategic plans, including the:
- Community Vision 2041
- Council Plan 2025-2029
- Financial Plan
- Asset Plan
- Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan - Live Well in Wellington
The new website is designed to address previous challenges around engagement and accessibility. It replaces the static PDF-based approach with a dynamic, user-friendly interface that allows:
- Real-time tracking of progress against strategic priorities via a performance dashboard
- Clear updates on Council initiatives and actions
- Interactive access to strategic documents and sub-plans
- New channels for community feedback and engagement
The reporting platform is available at future.wellington.vic.gov.au andis updated after the end of each quarter.
Engagement with our local community is guided by the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) framework, which recognises that when a community, or a specific cohort within the community, is impacted by a decision, they should have a meaningful opportunity to contribute to that decision. Consistent with this approach, Council has established a Youth Council, focused on training and empowering young people to build the skills and confidence needed to have their voices heard across the municipality. Through this forum, young people are supported to participate as active citizens and to contribute to community policy, discussion and decision‑making.
During Quarter 4, Council continued to strengthen public transparency and accessibility to decision-making information through the Your Wellington Your Say online engagement platform. Between 1 April and 30 June 2026, the platform recorded 12,791 page views, 8,314 visits and 6,596 visitors, resulting in 1,640 community contributions through surveys. These results demonstrate strong community interest in Council projects and decisions, providing residents with accessible opportunities to stay informed, share feedback and participate in Council's decision-making processes.
Continued use of the platform supports Council's commitment to open, transparent and informed engagement with the community. The importance o fproviding accessible, timely information to support meaningful community participation aligns with Council's community engagement approach and commitment to transparency.
A section titled Gender Impact Assessment (GIA) has been incorporated into the Council Report process, embedding the consideration of gender equality impacts into decision making. This enhancement aligns reporting requirements with legislative obligations and supports more informed and thoughtful assessments across projects and initiatives.
This quarter has seen a strong focus on strategic planning, partnership development and future program delivery across the cultural portfolio.
The team has been actively engaging with regional, state and industry networks to identify opportunities for new cultural events, festivals and creative initiatives that will strengthen community participation and enhance Wellington Shire's cultural offering. Through these ongoing relationships, Council continues to advocate for the region and explore collaborative opportunities that support visitation, economic development and community connection.
At the Gippsland Art Gallery, significant effort has been directed towards the development and planning of future major exhibitions. The team is working extensively with partners, artists, lenders and stakeholders to secure and deliver high-profile blockbuster exhibitions that will attract new audiences, increase visitation and further strengthen the Gallery's reputation as a leading cultural destination within regional Victoria.
Across the broader cultural services area, work has continued on program development, audience engagement initiatives and the ongoing improvement of visitor experiences. Planning and preparation activities undertaken this quarter will help ensure a strong pipeline of cultural experiences, exhibitions and events for residents and visitors in the months ahead.
The team remains committed to delivering high-quality cultural opportunities that celebrate creativity, support local communities and contribute to Wellington Shire's reputation as a vibrant and connected region.