Imagine Greater Bendigo is our community’s opportunity to help shape the future of our municipality and guide the work of Council over the coming years.

All feedback received during this nine-month project, starting in February 2021, will help to develop a Community Vision, Council Plan, Financial Plan, and Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan by October 2021. An Asset Plan will also be developed in 2022.

This is an important piece of work and a requirement under the new Local Government Act (2020) and Public Health and Wellbeing Act (2008), which govern the work of Councils in Victoria.

It is a requirement of the new Local Government Act (2020) for every new Council to develop a Community Vision, Council Plan, Financial Plan and Asset Plan. It is a requirement under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act (2008) to develop a Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan. All Councils in Victoria are currently asking their residents to help them with this important work.

Community Vision: The vision will outline our community’s goals for the future and how it would like Greater Bendigo to grow and develop over the next 10 years and beyond. Council will then use the new vision as a guide and work in partnership with local organisations and the community to create the Greater Bendigo we want for current and future generations.

Council Plan: A four-year plan that has key strategies and initiatives to be delivered during the Council term that will help achieve the Community Vision.

Financial Plan: a 10-year plan that outlines how Council will responsibly manage community funds and ensure it is financially sustainable.

Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan: a four year plan that includes priorities and goals to improve residents’ health and wellbeing.

Asset Plan: a 10-year plan outlining the maintenance, purchase, expansion, upgrade, sale or decommissioning of different types of infrastructure Council is responsible for.

The community consultation process as been divided into three stages. All engagement opportunities will be widely promoted through local media and on the City’s social media platforms (including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram). Additional information to help you provide feedback is also available on the new Let’s Talk Greater Bendigo community engagement platform.

Stage 1 - February 2021

In this stage we want to understand what it is you love and value about living in Greater Bendigo and where you think improvements or changes can be made. This feedback will be particularly helpful in shaping our new Community Vision. We will collect your feedback through: Community survey

Art activities

Listening posts

Let’s Talk Greater Bendigo, the City’s new online community engagement platform

Providing an engagement toolkit to community groups and organisations inviting them to complete the survey as a group Imagine

Stage 2 – April and May 2021

Based on the feedback provided in stage 1, we now want to understand more about your priorities when it comes to current Council services and programs, and what Council should invest in for the future. We will collect your feedback through:

Community survey

Targeted interviews with key stakeholders

Holding a range of targeted forums

As part of this stage Council also needs to complete a ‘deliberative engagement’ process, which is defined as engaging with a select group of participants on a defined issue, weighing up options and providing recommendations to decision-makers. To do this, the City will invite residents to join a community panel.

To select the participants, we will write at random to 15,000 households inviting residents aged 18 years and over to express an interest in being on the community panel. A total of 50 adults will be selected and the entire selection process will be managed by an independent specialist. We will also hold a youth panel with our Youth Council and other young people to ensure we capture their views as well.

Stage 3 – July and August 2021

In this stage Council will present the Community Vision and release draft copies of the new Council Plan, Financial Plan, and Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan for community comment.

Your feedback from the previous stages of engagement will also be summarised and shared with the community.

Residents will be able to make a submission to make comment on the Community Vision and draft documents.

We all want to live in a community where we can enjoy the best possible quality of life. We all have different ideas on what we need to be able to do this, so this is your chance to imagine a Greater Bendigo that has everything you, your family, friends and community need to succeed, be well and be happy.

Tell us why you love living in Greater Bendigo and what improvements can be made, so your feedback can help Council to invest in projects and services that support your overall wellbeing.

Content you submit on the Let’s Talk Greater Bendigo site publicly with a screen name will be able to be viewed by everyone who views the site. If you complete an online survey, data will be analysed by staff but it will be de-identified in any reporting.

For more information you can read our Privacy Policy.

Please let us know if you would like to participate but need some help. The sooner we know, the sooner we can get you involved. You can contact us at imagine@greaterbendigo.vic.gov.au or on 03 5422 6000

The new Local Government Act (2020) requires Councils to undertake ‘deliberative engagement’ as part of developing a Community Vision, Council Plan, Financial Plan, Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan, and Asset Plan.

‘Deliberative engagement’ is defined as an engagement process with a select group of participants. The process focuses on a defined issue. It weighs up options and provides recommendations to decision-makers.

This means the City must write to a group of residents at random, unfortunately if you do not receive an invitation then you are unable to participate in this part of the project. However, there are a number of other ways to have your say, including surveys in stage 1 and stage 2 of the community consultation process. More information on all consultation opportunities and any updates will be posted on this page.