The 2026/27 Budget was adopted at a Special Meeting of Council last night. It focuses on getting back to basics and investing in the services that matter most.
Published on 01 July 2026
Two community groups have been successful in obtaining funding through Hepburn Shire Council’s (Council) 2025/26 Sustainable Hepburn Grants Program.
The program supports community-based projects and initiatives that aim to reduce future impacts of climate change and promote or establish circular economy focused programs.
Mayor Cr Tony Clark said that grants program rewards groups that build climate-resilient projects and initiatives.
“The Creswick Neighbourhood Centre (CNC) and the Clunes Neighbourhood House (CNH) both received $10,000 to support their involvement and advocacy of the HeatSAFE campaign,” he said.
“Heat kills more people than all disasters combined and the HeatSAFE project has empowered our community to help individuals understand what they can do and how they can support and protect themselves.”
The CNC and CNH are trusted community hubs that are actively involved in co-designing a guide for rural neighbourhood houses to become HeatSAFE. Together, CNC and CNH are piloting HeatSAFE Houses.
The CNC and CNH have worked alongside community members, local government, and 14 health and emergency management partners involved in a concurrent project (Heatwave HELP) to co-design the HeatSAFE Houses Guide.
“The groups have been able to action key priorities including creating accessible cool spaces, reliable power and locally embedded preparedness systems,” said Cr Clark.
Find out more about the program.