Statement by the Mayor, Councillors and Chief Executive Officer

Published on 25 March 2025

Statement by the Mayor, Councillors and Chief Executive Officer – Hepburn Hub at The Rex

On behalf of the Council the current elected Councillor group would like to express our regret to our community of Hepburn Shire for the negative impact that the Hepburn Hub at The Rex project has had on us all.

We recognise that some actions during the project have led to feelings of mistrust, and we regret the distress this caused.

We acknowledge that certain actions taken in the past did not align with the values of our Council and needs of our community. The Hepburn Hub at The Rex project did not deliver the outcomes promised, and we are sorry for the harm this caused.

We acknowledge the impact of past decisions, including the on-going impact this has had on the organisation and community.  Council has taken active steps to address past shortcomings and has implemented numerous measures that prevent poor project management and improved our governance and transparency.

We recognise that restoring the trust that has been damaged with our community will take time, but we are dedicated to listening to the concerns of our community and working to create positive partnerships.

Link to earlier media release - Leaked report on Hepburn Hub at The Rex Project