Council Plan 2025-29

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.

A series of targeted events were delivered during the quarter to support workforce development, industry awareness, and local business capability across the defence and aviation sectors.

The Aviation Taster Tour provided participants with a practical introduction to aviation careers and training pathways, fostering early interest in the sector and highlighting local opportunities.

Complementing this, the Defence 101 Event offered foundational knowledge of the defence industry, including procurement processes, key stakeholders, and potential entry points for businesses and individuals seeking to engage with defence-related opportunities.

Industry engagement was further strengthened through the Ventia Subcontractors Forum, which connected local suppliers with a major defence contractor to explore subcontracting opportunities and requirements for participation in defence supply chains. This event facilitated direct contact between Ventia and local businesses, improving understanding of compliance, capability, and partnership expectations.

Similarly, participation in The Middle of Everywhere Jobs and Careers Fair broadened outreach efforts by showcasing local employment pathways, promoting local industries, and connecting job seekers with employers and highlighting potential careers to students.

To build business capability, the Business Victoria Workshop on Winning Government Grants and Tenders assisted local enterprises with practical skills to navigate funding opportunities and tender processes. This workshop provided guidance on identifying relevant opportunities, preparing strong submissions, and aligning business offerings with government objectives.

Collectively, these events contributed to strengthening workforce pipelines and supporting economic development outcomes within the region.

Council continues to advance integrated place-based planning and promote housing diversity through the ongoing assessment of planning permit applications and the implementation of Planning Scheme Amendments.

These actions ensure alignment with strategic objectives and support sustainable growth across the municipality.

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Council continued to work with industry and government partners to attract investment that supports renewable energy development and the broader energy transition.

Engagement with Regional Development Victoria focused on identifying opportunities to strengthen local industry participation and investment outcomes. To further promote the region's capabilities, Council organised a tour of local businesses during the quarter, highlighting the strength of the local supply chain and advocating for greater involvement of local businesses in upcoming new energy projects.

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Council continued to maximise investment in the Middle of Everywhere brand through the support, facilitation and promotion of events across the municipality. The reporting period commenced with the highly successful ANZAC Week Airshow, which attracted 12,300 ticket sales and continued to be a major event for the region, generating a significant boost to the local economy through increased visitation, accommodation bookings and visitor spending.

During the reporting period, 28 event applications were assessed and approved, ensuring events were compliant and able to proceed successfully. Three major events received additional Council support, including sponsorship, staff attendance, visitor information and promotional materials, social media promotion, and direct permit assistance.

Council's event facilitation role involved extensive cross-organisational coordination, with 71 referrals made across Council departments for acknowledgements, approvals, permits and specialist advice. This collaborative approach helped deliver safe, compliant and successful events that contribute to visitation, economic activity and the promotion of Wellington Shire as the Middle of Everywhere.

Council also continued work on the Gippsland Rally, supporting event planning and delivery to ensure the event remains a premier attraction for motorsport enthusiasts and visitors to the region. The rally continues to provide opportunities to showcase local communities, businesses and visitor experiences while generating economic benefits across Wellington Shire.

Several Planning Scheme Amendments (including C124well, C126well, C131well and C132well) are currently in progress andat different stages of preparation but when completed will enable the delivery of zoned land for residential, industrial, and commercial growth.

A finalised Development Plan was formally adopted by Council at the Ordinary Council Meeting of 21 April 2026. Work will now continue to provide support in accessing the necessary infrastructure required to facilitate the development of the land.

Investigation works continued during the reporting period on the subdivision of strategically significant Council-owned land in Stratford, Sale and Yarram. These activities support future investment opportunities and help ensure an ongoing supply of land to meet residential, commercial and industrial development needs across the municipality.

Progress also continued on the West Sale Airport Master Plan, with the project advancing through key planning and consultation stages. Endorsement of the Master Plan is anticipated in late 2026 and will provide a strategic framework to guide the future development and growth of this important regional asset.

Following a successful bid for funding from the Department of Transport and Planning during the reporting period, consultants have been appointed to undertake the project, which is now formally underway. Councillors will receive an update in September 2026 with a final report for adoption anticipated to be presented to the 20 October 2026 Council meeting.

As part of Council's participation in Timber Towns Victoria, a delegation attended State Parliament to advocate on behalf of timber-dependent communities.

The delegation focused on key State Government election priorities, highlighting the importance of supporting regional economies, industry development, workforce transition, and investment in communities impacted by changes in the forestry sector.

This advocacy aimed to ensure local priorities were recognised and considered in future government policy and funding decisions.

Throughput at the Gippsland Regional Livestock Exchange continues to remain strong, with increased buyer attendance at sales contributing to robust competition and positive market activity. The continued strength of the exchange reinforces its importance as a key regional economic asset, supporting livestock producers and attracting participation from across Victoria nd interstate.

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Parks are regularly maintained on a set schedule, and upgrades to park infrastructure are planned as assets reach the end of their life.

Masterplans for key reserve sites are in preparation with active engagement of communities including:

• Lions Park Sale
• Golden Beach
• Prince Street Reserve Rosedale, and
• Great Southern Rail Trail.

The Urban Forest program has delivered over 700 street and park trees in the autumn of 2026 following engagement with the relevant communities on tree selection in late 2025. Council continues to support in-park events and licensed activities that encourage community use of the Shire's parks.

This activity is scheduled to begin in Year 3 of the Council Plan. It follows a regular cycle and was last completed in 2024.

During this reporting period, Council has commenced the review of the adopted Early Years Infrastructure Plan. The focus of this review is to ensure that the region is well placed to respond to the 2028 roll out of the Best Start, Best Life reforms.

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Council is continuing regular maintenance of parks along with upgrades to trails, paths, playgrounds, and accessible facilities.

Plans also include improving access to open spaces within a short walk of homes and adding lighting to make parks safer and more usable for longer hours.

The 2025/26 Capital Expenditure (CapEx) Program rollout has supported some enhanced accessible infrastructure to paths and playgrounds and will continue to respond to identified needs and opportunities.

Council's targeted reactivation of Aqua Energy Leisure continues to deliver outstanding results, with record levels of participation, visitation and community engagement across the facility. Supported by new membership options, expanded swimming lesson capacity, enhanced wellness offerings and improved digital communication, the centre has experienced significant growth in both membership and program participation since reopening.

These initiatives complement the recently completed $23 million redevelopment, which delivered major facility upgrades including a seven-lane indoor pool, zero-depth water play area, 24-hour gym access, contemporary wellness facilities and fully accessible changerooms and pool deck. Additional services such as Reformer Pilates, cold-water immersion and recovery programs have further diversified opportunities for participation and wellbeing.

The centre continues to exceed expectations, with memberships now well above pre-closure levels and record numbers being achieved across a range of programs, including swim school enrolments. Increased programming and community engagement activities have strengthened Aqua Energy Leisure's role as a key health, wellbeing and recreation destination for Wellington Shire residents.

Further supporting this growth, during the reporting period a new car park upgrade has been completed and opened to the public, significantly improving access, safety and convenience for patrons. Together, these outcomes reflect the success of Council's investment in the facility and the strong community demand for high-quality aquatic and leisure services.

This activity is scheduled to commence in Year 2 of the Council Plan, with planning and strategic development work already underway during the reporting period. The development of the Arts, Culture and Leisure Strategy has commenced and will provide the overarching framework to guide future service delivery, investment and community outcomes across the sector.

As a critical supporting component of this work, an Aquatic Strategy will also be developed to inform the long-term planning and provision of aquatic facilities and services across Wellington Shire.

The Library Review has progressed significantly and Council has collected and analysed qualitative and quantitative information against industry benchmarks.

Extensive consultation with Shire Library staff, the Public Library sector, and the Not For Profit library corporations in addition to reviewing and comparison of Public Library sector benchmarks has been completed. The next step will include reporting to and engaging with Council’s senior management and Councillors.

Council continues to maintain garden beds, street trees, rubbish services, lighting, seating, and other amenities across the shire. Standards are regularly internally audited, and customer requests are promptly addressed to keep these spaces wellpresented, active, and welcoming.

The completion of the 2025/26 Capital Expenditure program (CapEx) rollout during this reporting period has allowed for programmed renewal of assets, new green features and small infrastructure installations.

The review of key elements of the Community Managed Facilities Strategy and the Sporting and Community Infrastructure Plans is continuing as planned. Key items to date during the quarter include the review of hierarchy model and core service level provision.

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Asset Condition data was considered in the development of the initial 2026/27 budget.

This data ensures that any assets listed in poor condition have been addressed and considered in the program of developments in the coming years.

Condition audits and renewal modelling has shown a steady positive trend in asset condition rating indicating that expenditure is effective in maintaining/slightly improving over the longer term.

Council assets are being maintained in a good condition.

The detailed design tender process has been completed during the quarter, with submissions assessed and the preferred consultant identified. Council has progressed to final appointment arrangements, with the detailed design phase to

commence in the near future.

This phase of the project will include stakeholder and community engagement activities, to ensure the final design reflects project objectives and user requirements. Subject to completion of this phase and the necessary approvals, the project will then progress toward construction.

The updated Residential Road and Street Construction Plan has been adopted by Council during the quarter, and the latest version is available on Council's website.

The Urban Paths Plan update has remained on track with a Council workshop planned for August 2026 followed by community engagement later in the calendar year.

The review is progressing as planned and due to be completed by June 2027.

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Initial internal review of the current Recreational Boating Facilities Plan has been undertaken during the quarter.

The community consultation planning phase has progressed and with plans for it to be opened to the public in September/October 2026.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.