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Published on 26 June 2025
At the Council meeting on Tuesday 24 June, the Council formally adopted a suite of key strategic documents that will help guide the future of the Shire. They are the Council Plan 2025–2029 (incorporating the Municipal Health and Wellbeing Plan), 2025/26 Budget, Financial Plan, Revenue and Rating Plan, and Asset Plan.
Mayor, Cr Don Henderson, said that community feedback played a pivotal role in refining the priorities and direction set out in the adopted plans.
“We are entering an important new chapter, with a renewed commitment to improving our community responsiveness, providing essential services and ensuring our financial sustainability, and that is reflected in these plans.”
“The development of these important strategic documents has been informed significantly by our community. Through the work on the Financial Vision conducted last year, the community surveys held this year, and the work of our Deliberative Engagement Panel, we have been able to incorporate a broad range of perspectives.”
“Our Councillor group have worked hard, along with our leadership team and Officers, to develop these documents with strong input from the community,” said Cr Don Henderson.
Council received nearly 200 community submissions during this final consultation period, with most community members focused on shaping the Council Plan and Budget. Since the commencement of the Hepburn Together project the Participate Hepburn project page attracted more than 9,000 views.
A report summarising community feedback on the Council Plan and how this is referenced in the document is available on the Hepburn Together project page on the Participate Hepburn website.
“These documents represent a responsible path forward for Council. In particular, the Council Plan and Budget provide a strong foundation for our operations and decision-making over the coming years,” said Cr Don Henderson.
The Council Plan 2025–2029 is centred around three key domains: Hepburn Life, Future Hepburn, and Hepburn Working Together, each addressing vital aspects of community wellbeing, sustainability, and local collaboration.
“The adoption of the Council Plan, Budget and other strategic documents means that we can get on with delivering important services and projects. We will be regularly reporting on progress against actions in these documents,” said Cr Don Henderson.
Copies of adopted documents are available on our website at Council Plan and vision (please note, the Financial Plan 2025–2035 and the Revenue and Rating Plan 2025–2029 will be uploaded once administratively finalised).