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Draft Council Plan

Every four years, all Victorian councils must create their:

  • Council Plan
  • Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan (Health Plan)
  • Asset Plan
  • Long Term Financial Plan (Financial Plan)

The Council Plan and Health Plan set priorities for the next four years.

As the 2021-2025 Council Plan draws to a close, we have been working to develop the 2025-2029 Council Plan.

Our first and second phase of community engagement included surveys, focus groups, community and stakeholder groups, internal working groups, deliberative Community Panel, and analysing the information that we collect everyday through Let’s Talk and customer requests.

We are working with our new Council to develop a final plan. We are aiming to release a Council Plan that embeds our Municipal Health and Wellbeing Plan in June 2025.

We want our new Council Plan to set clear priorities, be easy to understand, and include all the areas where we serve the community.

The draft Council plan is provided below.

Review the document and complete the survey to provide feedback.

Share your thoughts

The draft Council Plan has now been developed and the City is seeking community feedback.

The survey opens April 14, 2025 and closes April 30, 2025 at 5pm.

Updates

Community Panel - completed

The City held a registration process for community to apply for the Community Panel.

The panels role was to develop priorities and ideas that will guide the next four-year Council Plan. The Council Plan is how our new Councillors agree to their priorities for the next 4 years.

All Greater Bendigo residents 16 years and over were invited to register their interest. The panel was selected to have a mix of people from all walks of life, and represent our community across age, gender, cultural background, and where they live.

‘Deliberative engagement’ is a community meeting held over a few days. The panel members learn about things that matter to you, ask questions of experts, and debate current opportunities. The members then work together to share ideas and recommendations with the Mayor, Councillors and the City of Greater Bendigo CEO.

The Victorian State Government requires all Councils to hold a deliberative panel as part of writing the Council Plan.

Anyone who registers will have a chance of being on the panel. To make sure we have a mix of people from all walks of life, we will select people to be on the panel that represent our community across age, gender, cultural background and where they live.

People registering for the panel need to be able to attend four in-person meetings, held in the Bendigo city centre on:

  • Meeting 1: Friday (6pm-8.30pm) 14 March 2025
  • Meeting 2: Saturday (10am-4pm) 15 March 2025
  • Meeting 3: Sunday (10am-4pm) 16 March 2025

Expert facilitator, Amy Hubbard, will host the panel to ensure a safe, fun, and inclusive setting for all members.

You can bring a support person and people under 18 years will need to bring an adult guardian. We will assist with costs like transport and parking. We will provide meals, snacks, and tea/coffee/water.

The venue is accessible - you are welcome to visit to check accessibility arrangements before the panel. We are happy to discuss help or adjustments you might need and ask you to register as a first step.

You can register online here or call our customer service centre on 1300 002 642.

You get to actively take part in leading your community and get a chance to talk directly to the Mayor, Councillors and CEO about issues that affect your community. We will be providing a safe and welcoming setting to get to know other people working to improve our community.

Members will receive a $100 gift voucher to thank them for their time and effort.

Councillors will consider the conversations and recommendations from the panel before making their final decision on what is in the Council Plan, the Municipal Health and Wellbeing Plan, the Long-Term Financial Plan, and the Asset Plan.

Timeline

  • Timeline item 1 - complete

    Discussions with key stakeholders

    February 2024 - March 2025

  • Timeline item 2 - complete

    Annual Budget and Council Plan community survey

    November - December 2025

  • Timeline item 3 - complete

    Community Panel process

    November 2024 - March, 2025

  • Timeline item 4 - active

    Draft Council Plan open for feedback

    April 14, 2025

  • Timeline item 5 - incomplete

    Draft Council Plan closes for feedback

    April 30, 2025

  • Timeline item 6 - incomplete

    Plan presented to Council

    Mid 2025

Contact us

Have questions or want to learn more about a project, contact us below:

Contact Information
Name Megan O'Donnell
Phone 1300 002 642
Email isp@bendigo.vic.gov.au