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.
A scheduled review will assess outcomes and provide an updated status report to inform future priorities.
The environmental and planning team at Wellington Shire Council (WSC) continues to engage with Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC) in many land-use planning projects including ensuring appropriate input into shaping largescale renewable projects.
Council has also supported the Deadly in Gippsland Expo 2026 which is designed to foster economic growth and bring together business owners, community members and industry partners, with the aim to expand the Gippsland Aboriginal business sector.
The Quarter 1 update on the Council Plan 2025–29 was successfully delivered through the new Future Wellington platform and presented to Council prior to its public release. This approach streamlined the process, ensuring Councillors received information in a clear, easy-to-read, and comprehensive format.
The new reporting platform represents a major step forward in improving transparent governance and communication, enabling timely decision-making and improved access for the community. A diverse range of engagement initiatives were also undertaken during this quarter to involve residents in shaping Wellington’s future.
These included:
- Get It Sorted – How do you do waste? – Seeking community input on waste management practices to inform the rollout of the Food Organics waste stream (FOGO).
- Lions Park Master Plan – Gathering feedback to inform the development of a key recreational space.
- Public Open Space – Consulting on priorities for open space planning and usage.
- Urban Forest Renewal Program – Inviting input on street tree planting.
- Wellington’s Disability Inclusion and Access Plan – Developing the next Disability Inclusion and Access Plan to inform Council services and facilities via targeted engagement.
- Maffra Lawn Tennis Club – LED lighting upgrade – Supporting local sport infrastructure improvements with grant application requirements.
- Naming Proposal – Western side of the Port of Sale – Inviting community input on the naming decision of a public space.
- Boisdale Recreation Reserve Multipurpose Court Redevelopment – Supporting local sport infrastructure improvements with grant application requirements.
- Public Land Acquisition C122well – Cobains Road – Consulting on land acquisition to support future development. Feedback was actively collected through targeted surveys and forms, including Senior Community Expo – Vendor Feedback – Capturing insights from participating vendors to improve future expos and Kindergarten Central Registration – Family and Services Feedback – Gathering perspectives to enhance and streamline early childhood service registration processes.
These activities reflect Council’s ongoing commitment to meaningful engagement, ensuring community voices inform planning and decision-making. The combination of improved reporting processes and active consultation demonstrates a strong focus on transparency, accessibility, and collaboration with residents.
This quarter, our arts and culture programs continued to advance inclusion and engagement across Wellington's socially and culturally diverse communities. New exhibitions provided a broad range of creative perspectives and accessible entry points for audiences of all ages and backgrounds.
Synchron City showcased contemporary works by 26 national artists, offering a wide spectrum of voices and artistic approaches.
Olive Cotton & Her Contemporaries brought nationally significant early 20th‑century photography to local audiences and Wide Nature Wonder Land, (a VicHealth‑funded exhibition in the Youth Space) encouraged creative participation and connection among young people.
The return of the Gallery's permanent collection to an online, fully searchable format has improved access for the wider community, supporting greater cultural engagement and learning opportunities.
Beyond the gallery, our broader arts and events activity helped connect diverse community groups through shared cultural experiences. Venue technical staff and the portable trailer stage supported a series of major events including;
- The Middle of Everywhere Christmas Parade
- Stratford Carols by Candlelight, and;
- The Wellington Walk Against Domestic Family Violence,
These events help create inclusive, community‑wide celebrations that reflect and bring together the richness of Wellington's population. Collectively, these initiatives continue to expand participation, visibility, and cultural connection across the region.
Key initiatives for this period include the following highlights:
- Council has completed Year-1 of its device replacement program whereas outdated and unsupported devices have been replaced within the renewal program timeframe. This provides improved security, reduced cyber vulnerabilities, and full compliance with relevant cyber standards.
- A collaborative tender process with East Gippsland Shire Council for a new Geographic Information System was undertaken. This supports alignment of business systems, processes and procurement efficiencies for both councils.
- Completion of Network Penetration Testing and Cyber Awareness Audit to ensure compliance with the Victorian Protective Data Security Standards Framework and a demonstrated improvement in Council's cyber security posture.
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.
Gender Impact Assessment drop-in sessions are facilitated on a monthly basis.
During this reporting period, the Cultural Awareness E-Learning module which focuses on First Nations Culture and Cultural Safety was completed by 48 staff on an optional basis, contributing to broader organisational capability in inclusive and culturally safe practices.
Tender documentation and the scope of works were completed and released, with the tender period now closed. Both East Gippsland Shire Council and Wellington Shire Council are currently assessing the received proposals, with the next steps involving evaluation, recommendation and contractor appointment to enable commencement of works.
The development of governance resources and templates to support volunteer committees is progressing.
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 2025-29
- 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.
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 saw a strong program of visual arts activity, with several new exhibitions launched across our gallery spaces.
These included:
- Synchron City showcasing contemporary works by 26 national artists,
- Olive Cotton & Her Contemporaries, a touring exhibition of early 20th‑century photography; and
- Wide Nature Wonder Land, a VicHealth‑funded youth‑focused exhibition.
In addition, the Gallery's permanent collection is now back online and fully searchable for the first time in three years, following the successful integration of the collection database with the gallery website.
Across the broader arts and events program, venue technical staff and the portable trailer stage supported a range of major community events, including the Middle of Everywhere Christmas Parade, the Stratford Carols by Candlelight and the Wellington Walk Against Family Violence. These contributions continue to enhance the quality and visibility of cultural activity throughout the region.