Community feedback invited on key strategic documents

Cardinia Shire Mayor Cr Jack Kowarzik said the Council Plan was Council’s overarching strategic document that would drive Council’s direction for the next four years and support Council to deliver on its commitment to the community.      

“The Council Plan is our key document that will help guide our direction and decision making for this Council term, outlining how we will deliver on the long-term Community Vision, work towards our key strategic objectives, respond to challenges and leverage opportunities,” Mayor Kowarzik said.

“As one of Victoria’s fastest growing municipalities, it’s important that we plan for our future to ensure our Shire remains a great place to live, work and play. This draft Council Plan outlines our approach to respond to the Shire’s rapid growth and challenges over the coming years, and will support us to deliver on our commitment to the community.”

The draft Council Plan is underpinned by five strategic objectives:

• Thriving communities
• Vibrant places
• Adaptive environments
• Prosperous economies
• Responsible leaders

The strategic objectives have been informed by priorities identified by the Community Panel during the deliberative engagement process earlier this year. The panel reviewed and updated the Community Vision 2040 and identified a number of key focus areas that have helped to inform the strategic objectives.

A series of strategies and initiatives have been developed to achieve each of these strategic objectives, with strategic indicators to measure how they will be achieved by Council. The initiatives include tangible actions that will help Council meet community needs over the coming four years and beyond.

Below are examples of initiatives under each of the strategic objectives:

• Develop and implement a Volunteers’ Strategy to support volunteers and encourage volunteer participation.
• Plan and deliver accessible and inclusive recreation and community facilities.
• Develop a Towards Zero Emissions Plan to ensure progress towards zero emissions and carbon neutrality, and implement the plan.
• Conduct a comprehensive gap analysis of community and human services, education and skills, with recommendations to support advocacy and funding to attract service providers to operate in Cardinia Shire.
• Provide opportunities for meaningful, informed and representative community engagement to guide Council’s decision-making.

Mayor Kowarzik said feedback had also helped to inform development of other key strategic documents, including the updated Liveability Plan 2017–29.

“This is our second, four-year review of the Liveability Plan 2017–29, which has been developed to provide a clear framework for public health planning in the Shire,” Mayor Kowarzik said.

“The plan recognises Council’s role in coordinating local public health planning by bringing together a range of organisations, groups and our local community to work together to protect, improve and promote the health and wellbeing of our community.

“The changing needs of our community and insights gained from the recent community engagement activities have helped to inform our updated Liveability Plan. We want to ensure the plan’s objectives reflect our community’s current challenges and priorities, to effectively guide the way in which we partner with organisations and our community to enhance the liveability of our Shire, and the health and wellbeing of our community.”

You can view and provide feedback on the draft Council Plan 2025–29 and updated Liveability Plan 2017-29 on Council’s Creating Cardinia website at www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/haveyoursay

Consultation closes on 19 August.