Healthy Connected Communities

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. 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.

Wellington Shire's Health and Wellbeing Coalition have been working collaboratively with Ramahyuck Gippsland Aboriginal Corporation to secure up to $1.5 million in Vic Health Partners in Place funding for a five-year period.

This funding is designed to support long-term, systems-level change through place-based prevention initiatives that strengthen health and wellbeing outcomes for First Peoples. To date, an application for funding has been submitted and Vic Health extended an invitation for a panel Interview to Ramahyuck, Wellington Shire Council's Community Development Team and the Public Health Unit.

This funding application is under consideration.

During the January to March quarter, Council delivered a broad and diverse program of community engagement to better understand local needs and support informed decision‑making across a range of services, plans and projects.

Key engagement initiatives undertaken during the quarter included:

• Business in Wellington - Gathering insights from local businesses to help shape future business support and initiatives across the shire.
• Draft Disability Inclusion and Access Plan - Inviting community feedback to inform how Council services and facilities can be more inclusive and accessible.
• Golden Beach Master Plan - Collecting community input to help guide the development of a coastal community open space.
• Great Southern Rail Trail Master Plan - Seeking feedback from the community and stakeholders to inform planning for a key tourism and recreation asset.
• Lions Park Draft Master Plan - Consulting on the draft master plan to guide the future development of this important recreational space.
• Prince Street Reserve Master Plan - Engaging with the community on the future direction of a local open space.
• Residential Road and Street Construction Plan - Inviting community input into a key document that informs the upgrade of local roads through special charge schemes.
• Draft Waste Collection Policy and Guideline - Consulting with the community on a key policy that guides one of Council's core services.
• Wellington Alcohol, Social Life and Wellbeing (Local Drug Alcohol Team) Survey - Capturing local experiences relating to alcohol use to support actions under the Live Well in Wellington Plan.
• Naming proposal - western side of the Port of Sale - Conducting an objection period following the Place Names Committee decision.

In addition, targeted feedback was gathered through specific surveys and forms, including:

• Parks Week stakeholder survey - Collecting feedback from vendors to inform improvements to future events.
• Sale Botanic Gardens visitor survey - Gathering visitor insights to inform ongoing management and enhancement of the gardens.

This quarter delivered an inclusive and engaging program of performing and visual arts that supported participation from a broad cross‑section of the community across TheWedge and Gallery spaces.

At The Wedge, audiences experienced a diverse range of accessible, high‑quality performances. Highlights included the Australian Shakespeare Company's outdoor presentation of Twelfth Night on 1 March at the Sale Botanic Gardens, which removed traditional venue barriers and encouraged broad community attendance.

Maffra Dramatics Society marked its 50th anniversary with a highly successful season of The Rocky Horror Show from 20-29 March, attracting strong local participation and selling more than 1,800 tickets. Contemporary music offerings were strengthened through a performance by three‑time ARIA Award‑winning artist Meg Washington on 11 April, appealing to a wide and diverse audience base.

The Gallery further supported inclusion and representation through the launch of its Autumn Season exhibitions, showcasing the work of Wellington Shire artists Jenny Noone, Cindy Tong and Gavin Roberts. These exhibitions highlighted diverse creative voices and reinforced opportunities for local artists to share their practice with the community.

Entries also opened for the 2026 John Leslie Art Prize, encouraging broad participation from emerging and established artists across the region. Collectively, these initiatives strengthened access to arts and cultural experiences, increased engagement across different audiences and reinforced Council‑supported venues as welcoming and inclusive spaces that celebrate creativity, diversity and community connection.

Key initiatives for this period include the following highlights:

• Completion of a collaborative joint tender process with East Gippsland Shire Council for provision of ICT Professional Services Panel of Providers. A joint evaluation panel has been established to assess submissions and make recommendations to both councils. This initiative will ensure ongoing ICT procurement efficiencies for both councils.
• 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.
• 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.

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, the Cultural Awareness E-Learning module which focuses on First Peoples Culture and Cultural Safety was completed by 30 staff on an optional basis. This contributed to the organisations's broader capability in inclusive and culturally safe practices.

Since the closure of the tender period, further investigative works have been completed, including on‑site assessments, technical investigations and service demonstrations to better inform the delivery approach.

These activities have provided greater clarity on scope, methodology and project requirements.

The project partners are now considering the outcomes of this work and are progressing discussions with a suitably qualified provider, with the intention of proceeding toward appointment in the coming months to enable works to commence.

The development of governance resources and templates to support volunteer committees is progressing. Volunteer Committees of Management continue to be supported through quarterly network meetings and workshops.

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 and is 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.

To support transparent and evidence‑based engagement, staff have recently improved the collection and recording of community program data across Wellington Shire's public libraries, including reporting by cohort. This enables accurate and transparent reporting on the number of sessions delivered and the number of participants engaged across different community groups.

A new 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 delivered a vibrant program of performing and visual arts, with strong attendance and community engagement across The Wedge and Gallery spaces.

At The Wedge, audiences enjoyed a diverse range of high‑quality performances.

Highlights included:

• An outdoor presentation of Twelfth Night by the Australian ShakespeareCompanyon 1 March, staged in the scenic surrounds of the Sale Botanic Gardens.
• Maffra Dramatics Society celebrated its 50th anniversary with a highly successful season of The Rocky Horror Show from 20-29 March, selling more than 1,800tickets across the run. Contemporary music audiences were also captivated by three‑time ARIA Award‑winning artist Meg Washington, who performed to a strong crowd at The Wedge on 11 April.
• The Gallery marked the start of its Autumn Season with the launch of new exhibitions showcasing the work of Wellington Shire artists Jenny Noone, Cindy Tong and Gavin Roberts, reinforcing the Gallery's commitment to supporting and promoting local creative practice. In addition, entries opened for the 2026JohnLeslie Art Prize, generating early interest from artists across the region.

Together, these activities demonstrate continued momentum across the arts program, strengthening cultural participation and reinforcing the role of Council‑supported venues as key drivers of creative and community life within the Shire.