Councillor Column - 15 October 2025 - Cr Tim Drylie

Published on 15 October 2025

Resilience: Planning for the Future, Together

Last week I represented Hepburn Shire Council at the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) State Conference and State Council, where councils from across Victoria met to set priorities and advocate for stronger support from government. This year’s conference theme, The Future is Local, was a powerful reminder that councils are on the frontline of change and play a crucial role in shaping what comes next. To do that, we must be properly resourced. Federal and state governments continue to limit funding and shift responsibilities to local government, even as communities expect us to do more.

The release of Australia’s first National Climate Risk Assessment shaped much of the conversation. It shows we are heading towards a hotter, more unpredictable future, with global temperatures likely to rise by more than three degrees if we do not act. That future will bring more frequent droughts, fires, floods, rising costs and growing health impacts. These changes will affect how we plan housing, deliver services, protect nature and support people in the years ahead.

The motions debated reflected that reality. Councils called for more investment in climate adaptation and emissions reduction, stronger drought planning, better housing and planning decisions, and improved health and safety services to help communities cope with the pressures ahead. Hepburn Shire Council’s own motion to address the growing problem of occupational violence and abuse directed at councillors and staff was also passed, highlighting the urgent need for safer workplaces and a more respectful public environment.

Speakers, including former Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp, reminded us that good leadership is about legacy. It means making choices now that will strengthen communities long into the future. That includes progressing Treaty with First Peoples, deepening partnerships and building trust as part of how we lead through change.

Building resilience is not only about surviving change. It is also about treating one another with fairness and respect, rejecting division and hatred, and making sure everyone has the support they need to face an uncertain future together.