Loddon Shire Mayoral Column 3 November

Published on 03 November 2021

Mayor Neil Beattie.jpg

Community Vision and Council Plan adopted

At its meeting last week, Council adopted the Loddon Shire Community Vision 2031 and Council Plan 2021-2025.

The Community Vision 2031 and Council Plan 2021-2025 reflect Council’s commitment to listen to our community’s vision for the future and deliver a progressive and future-focused plan that will see the Shire continue to grow and prosper.

These critical documents were developed with feedback and collaboration from the community, including through The Loddon Project, which undertook extensive community engagement across the Shire.

The Community Vision 2031 is:

Creating a community where everyone is welcome and has the opportunity to live, work and thrive.

This Community Vision is supported by the Council Plan’s key themes, each with their own strategic objectives. These themes are:

· A sustainable built and natural environment

· A growing and vibrant community

· A diverse and expanding economy

· A supported and accessible community

On behalf of Council, I’d like to thank all the community members who contributed to The Loddon Project and who provided feedback to the draft Council Vision and Council Plan. This involvement was crucial in developing a blueprint for Loddon Shire’s future.

This Community Vision and Council Plan puts us in good stead to advocate for additional Federal and State Government investment in our community to build on our goals – including population growth, infrastructure, sustainability, the environment and youth.

Council also adopted the Financial Plan 2020-21 to 2030-31, which guides Council in long-term decision-making and supports achievement towards the Community Vision 2031 and Council Plan 2021-2025.

The Community Vision and Council Plan and 10-year Financial Plan documents are available at www.loddon.vic.gov.au/Our-Council/Plans-strategies-and-policies/Plans-and-strategies 

Neighbourhood Safer Places Plan adopted

At its meeting last week, Council adopted the most recent Loddon Shire Council Neighbourhood Safer Places Plan (NSP) – September 2021.

The plan includes and confirms designated NSPs within our municipality in the townships of Boort, Bridgewater, Inglewood, Pyramid Hill, Serpentine and Wedderburn.

Neighbourhood Safer Places are located at:

  • Boort Park Recreation Reserve (oval only)
  • Bridgewater Memorial Hall (grounds only)
  • Inglewood – J Sloan Park Playground (between the swimming pool and tennis courts)
  • Pyramid Hill – Mitchell Park Recreation Reserve (oval only)
  • Serpentine Recreation Reserve (Janiember Park) (oval only)
  • Wedderburn – Donaldson Park (oval area only)

NSPs are places of last resort when all other bushfire plans have failed. They are not community fire refuges or emergency relief centres. They do not replace any planning you have in place to respond to a fire nor a response to emergency alerts – including evacuation warnings.

For more information about NSPs, please visit the CFA website at https://bit.ly/3jTA5d9

Annual Report 2020/21

At its meeting Council also noted the Annual Report 2020/21, which provides information about Council’s operations and performance, as well as Financial and Performance Statements during the year.

The document is also an opportunity to reflect on the past year, as well as highlight the achievements of Council, Council staff and the community.

You can view the Annual Report 2020/21 (and past annual reports) at www.loddon.vic.gov.au/Our-Council/Annual-Report 

CVGA hospitality small businesses webinar

The Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance (CVGA) is holding a free webinar next week about how hospitality small businesses can reduce energy costs and emissions by upgrading, maintaining and using more efficient business equipment.

To be held next Thursday 11 November from 7pm to 8pm, the webinar will focus on how businesses can measure their current energy use, look at ways to reduce energy costs, upgrade and maintain refrigeration equipment, and more.

For more information and to book for the webinar go to https://energyefficienthospitality.eventbrite.com

Welcome to Lincoln

I’d like to welcome Loddon Shire Council’s new Chief Executive Officer, Lincoln Fitzgerald who started with Council on Monday.

Together with Councillors, I look forward to working with Lincoln, particularly as Council embarks on its new Community Vision 2031 and Council Plan 2021-2025.

I’d again like to thank Jude Holt who acted in the Chief Executive Officer role during the recruitment process. Jude finished with Council last Friday. 

Tagged as:
Back to top