Our Focus
We’re proud of the natural beauty that surrounds us here in Wellington. From the coast to the ranges, our landscapes are part of everyday life and we know how important they are to our health, identity and way of living.
Caring for these places is a big part of our role. As the region grows and environmental conditions continue to change, we’re making sure our plans and services help protect the environment while still supporting how people live, work and enjoy the outdoors.
We’re focused on managing land and resources responsibly, maintaining clean and healthy public spaces, and helping communities prepare for things like fire, flood and storm. Looking after the environment means looking after our future, and that’s something we all benefit from.
Strategic Indicators
At a Glance...
Major Initiatives and Actions
The Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) introduction campaign has been the most significant focus for Sustainability over the last quarter. Education campaigns and attendance at events by Council Officers representing waste have aided in the community adapting to the new bin service.
Council continues to deliver the multi-year Urban Forest program, which focuses on planting street trees to improve shade and streetscape amenity in Wellington townships where trees are limited or missing. Over 700 street and park trees have been planted in the autumn 2026 across the shire.
Staff continue to actively participate in regional meetings, ensuring Wellington Shire remains engaged in collaborative planning efforts.
Funding submissions have been submitted for an Integrated Water Management (IWM) study to support the Stratford Structure Plan and for an investigation into alternative water sources for the Yarram Recreation Reserve.
Council officers will continue to contribute to these forums to support coordinated outcomes.
The Wellington Shire Library staff staged another Itty Bitty Booksale in Maffra in June where approximately 500 books were rehomed.
The library service has provided local childcare and educational organisations with withdrawn library materials. They have also worked closely with local volunteers who arranged for resources to be sent overseas to disadvantaged children.
A small offering of free withdrawn library materials have also been make available within the branch libraries. This work redirects items away from landfill, encourages literacy development and engages non-library members who might be visiting hubs for other services e.g. Gallery, Maternal child health, tourism, etc.
Libraries are committed to reducing use of plastics where possible. This has been achieved through the use of biodegradable book contact, advocating for the use of recyclable materials in packaging from book suppliers, and reuse of boxes from book deliveries, provision of reusable library bags to new members.
Home Efficiency kits have been made available through our Library of Things collection. Winter is considered an ideal time for residents to use these kits.
Wellington Libraries have launched Citizen Science corners at Rosedale and Sale Libraries. Citizen scientists help researchers by collecting data, making observations, and contributing to real scientific discoveries. Wellington Libraries guide library users to building their citizen scientist skills through the provision of information, resources, referrals. There has also been a collection of take-home citizen Science kits including being made available such as the:
- Bugs & Beetles Kit
- Nature Exploration Kit
- Stargazing Kit
- Port of Sale Wetlands Discovery Kit.
A review of the current Municipal Emergency Management Plan (MEMP) is currently being undertaken by the Municipal Emergency Management Planning Committee (MEMPC).
The review and updating of the MEMP is on schedule to be completed by the legislative timeframe (October 2026).
Consent to progress Amendment C125well to exhibition was formally given by the Minister for Planning on 14 May 2026.
Work is progressing on the finalisation of associated supporting material (web portal, Frequently Asked Questions, media etc) in preparation for a 60-day period of exhibition which is anticipated to run between 3 September and 2 November 2026.
All Food and Garden Organics (FOGO) 240 litre bins have been delivered to properties during the quarter, ready for commencement on collection starting in July 2026.
Less waste is expected to end up in landfill, with measures of results to be made available in the first quarter of next Financial Year.
Education on general waste within schools and the general community including FOGO have been undertaken during the quarter and have assisted residents in understanding the importance of these new initiatives.
Council continues to deliver education campaigns to encourage waste reduction, as well as correctly separating materials to reduce contamination, improve recycling, and reuse where possible.
These initiatives help maximise recovery within the community.
Ongoing waste education campaigns during the quarter have assisted residents in understanding the importance of reducing, reusing and recycling resources. These efforts have built in momentum during the reporting period, and excitement from the public has been noted in anticipation of the introduction of the Food Organics Garden Organics (FOGO) bin in mid-2026.
The full bin rollout of up to 20,400 properties has been completed by the end of June 2026, ready for the new FOGO service to commence in July 2026.
Campaigns across school’s and the broader community have been delivered as scheduled during the reporting period.
These include:
- Sustainability Education
- Planting programs have been implemented in designated Natural Environment areas.
- Ongoing Waste Education with an emerging focus on the introduction of the new Food Organics Garden Organics (FOGO) service in 2026.
- Sustainable living monthly online training continues trhoughout 2026 in parnership with Gippsland Councils.