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Published on 21 May 2025
At the Special Council Meeting on Tuesday 13 May, Council endorsed the release of several draft strategic documents which will guide Council for the next four to 10 years.
Included in these documents is the draft Council Plan 2025-2029 which includes Council’s Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan.
The Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 requires councils to prepare a Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan (MPHWP) within 12 months of a council election.
The MPHWP identifies the health priorities of the municipality for the next four years. To inform the plan, Council has reviewed the priorities outline in the Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Plan 2023-2027, assessed the health status of the Shire, considered relevant legislation and previous plans, engaged with relevant stakeholders to identify community needs and analysed consultation data.
Mayor, Cr Don Henderson, said that the research that has taken place has highlighted opportunities to improve our population’s physical activity and mental health.
“All this work and consultation has informed the two priority areas in our Shire’s Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan, increasing active living and increasing mental wellbeing,” said Cr Don Henderson.
According to the latest census data while 64.5 per cent of our population are sufficiently active, only 11.2 per cent participate in organised sport and just over 52 per cent are overweight or obese. Under five per cent of adults in the Shire met guidelines for fruit and vegetable consumption.
“In doing this research, we have gained access to key data which describes the make-up of our population. Our current population sits at just below 17,000 and is predicted to grow over 12 per cent between now and 2026. Nearly 43 per cent of our population is located in Daylesford and surrounds, with 31 per cent in Creswick and surrounds, 13 per cent in Clunes and surrounds and 12 per cent in Trentham and surrounds.”
“Most of our residents work in the Shire and of those who work, 14 per cent work in healthcare and social assistance.”
Council will continue to work closely with key external stakeholders to work towards increasing active living and increasing mental wellbeing in the Shire. Council’s Health and Wellbeing Working group was formed in 2019 and brings together professionals from a diverse range of backgrounds, such as Central Highland Rural Health, Springs Medical, Ochre Health, Ballarat and District Aboriginal Cooperative, Victorian Department of Health and many more.
To view the draft Council Plan 2025-2029 and submit feedback, visit Participate Hepburn. Hard copy surveys are available in our libraries and customer service hubs. Drop-in sessions are also available to residents who would like the opportunity to speak with Councillors and senior Council Officers.