Comm_Planning_2011

Community Planning
Update
Highlights, Challenges
& Next Steps
October 2011

2011 Wellington Shire Council Community Planning Update
Contents
Highlights 4
Tourism & Events 4
Emergency Planning 5
Buildings & Facilities 5
Transport 5
Roads 6
Environment 6
Town Centres 6
Other Involvement 7
Youth 7
Access & Inclusion 7
Challenges 8
Council Capacity 8/9
Communication 9
Processes 10
Community & CRG Capacity 10
Next Steps 11
Enhancement of the Community Planning Model 11
Wellington Shire Council
1300 366 244
enquiries@wellington.vic.gov.au
www.wellington.vic.gov.au

established community
planning processes in
2006 and pioneered the
Community Representative
Group (CRG) concept.
CRGs were established
to encourage existing
community groups and
associations to work
together to identify important
community issues and
record these priorities in a
community plan.
Community plans are
designed to provide direction
for the community and
Wellington Shire Council in
both identifying community
priorities and implementing
actions to address these
areas of importance.
Benefits
Developing a community
plan and participating in the
planning process can provide
your community with:
 A way of strengthening
community relationships.
 The potential for
closer relationships with
Government and other
responsible agencies.
 A focus for attracting grants
and public funding.
 An opportunity for
participants to develop and
grow through involvement
and action.
Consultation and
participation
While recognising there
are many diverse towns
in Wellington Shire,
consultation and participation
are key considerations when
developing an effective
community plan. Identifying
community priorities and
implementing actions
should be an inclusive
process, involving people
of different age groups,
cultural backgrounds
and abilities. Similarly, to
increase the likelihood of
positive outcomes, there
may be input and support
required from outside
organisations (eg. Wellington
Shire Council, Country Fire
Authority, VicRoads and
others).
Establishing effective
communication channels
between these community
members and external
organisations can be critical
to the level of support the
plan receives inside and
outside the community.
Introduction
This report investigates
the highlights and
challenges from the
last five years of
community planning
in Wellington Shire.

highlights
4
Since 2006, there
have been many
achievements
to stem from
community planning
in Wellington Shire.
Successes will be
celebrated and
used to encourage
communities in
future planning.
Trails
Funding and project management has come from a variety of
agencies, but the commitment to develop walking trails was
identified in various community plans.
Highlights:
 Briagolong CRG developed a pathway plan for the town
and is implementing the priority pathways. $4,870 from the
Wellington Shire Council Community Improvement Fund has
been used to complete one priority pathway.
 New Aboriginal sites of significance have been added to
the Bataluk Cultural Trail in the Stratford area, one being the
Ramahyuck Cemetery. 21 new signs along the Trail are being
placed before Christmas 2011, with a website to be launched.
 The Gippsland Plains Rail Trail currently stretches from
Stratford, through Maffra and Tinamba, with a planned
completion in Heyfield. Multiple CRGs and other community
groups have been involved.
 ‘Go for Your life Community Partnership Project’, administered
by the Department of Sustainability and Environment has
funded two walking tracks and pathways in the Shire - The
Heyfield Wetlands Walking Track and the Avon River Heritage
Trail, with an all abilities loop.
 A trail from the Wetlands to Macalister River Park in Maffra
was constructed in 2009.
 The Loch Sport National Park Road pathway has had
$63,000 allocated in Council’s capital works budget for 2011/12.
References - Tourism Development Officer; Manager Natural Environment and Parks.
Community Events
Highlights:
 The Stratford Shakespeare Festival Committee has received
support from Wellington Shire Council and Regional Arts Victoria.
 The Rosedale community plan identified the enhancement
of community spirit as a priority and a Fun Day was held in
2007. Wellington Shire Council has continued to support similar
events in Rosedale.
 Wellington Shire Council has provided support for the
‘Celebrate Wurruk’ and ‘Wurruk Community Fun Day’ events.
References - Community Grants and Events Officer; Regional Arts Development Officer.
Tourism &
Events

highlights
5
Highlights:
 Trial bus services such as the Maffra Town
Bus, the Briagolong Loop Service, and the
Seaspray Holiday Bus were made available
through the Transport Connections Flexible
Fund. Community plans identified the need for
the trials which have run for the past 2 years
and recently been extended to the end of 2011.
 The summer 2010/11 bus service gave
Boisdale, Briagolong and Stratford communities
access to Sale by bus three days per week.
 A Holiday Bus service was established in
2008 to allow Heyfield commuters to access the
Seaspray Holiday Bus.
 Improving access to school buses is an
ongoing advocacy priority for Let’s GET
Connected transport project and Wellington
Shire Council. Processes have now been
established in Gippsland for community
members to access school buses.
 Wurruk now has a regular bus service as part
of the Sale Town Bus scheduled services.
 Wellington Shire Council is advocating to the
State Government for increased rail and bus
services between Sale and Traralgon giving
Rosedale community members improved
access to both towns. An additional weekday
bus service between Sale, Rosedale and
Traralgon has operated since February 2009.
Reference - Transport Project Coordinator.
Highlights:
 Community Emergency Plans in Tinamba
and Lake Glenmaggie have been developed
by the CRGs with support from Wellington
Shire Council, Southern Rural Water and
‘Heyfield and District Community Bank’ -
Bendigo Bank.
 A bore was installed at the Recreation
Reserve in Gormandale to access additional
water for drought and fire fighting purposes.
 Wellington Shire Council successfully
obtained a grant in 2011 to develop a
Workbook and Template for developing
Community Emergency Management Plans.
 A Legal Proceedings and Prosecutions
Officer has been appointed to strengthen
the enforcement process surrounding fire
prevention and other matters.
References - Coordinator Municipal Emergency; Manager Municipal
Services; Legal Proceedings and Prosecutions Officer.
Highlights:
 Boisdale Progress Association received
$10,000 from the Community Improvement
Fund to improve the recreation reserve toilet.
 A Caravan Park Masterplan is to be
developed by June 2012 for improvements to
Maffra Caravan Park.
 Since 2008, the Mann’s Beach Hall has been
on Wellington Shire Council’s facilities audit
list, supporting the community to improve this
facility.
 Maffra Hall Committee worked with the
CRG to place projectors in the main hall and
supper room to simulate a cinema and give
young people without transport to Sale another
entertainment option.
 Tinamba Tennis courts were repaired after
the 2007 floods. Future developments are
considered part of the Tinamba Multipurpose
Facility proposal.
Reference - Manager Built Environment.
Transport
Emergency
Planning
Buildings &
Facilities

highlights
6
Highlights:
 A Land Project Officer is now responsible for
the development and implementation of weed
management programs. A weed mapping
exercise commenced in June 2011 which
will guide future weed control works on Shire
roadsides, addressing priorities identified in the
Boisdale, Briagolong, Meerlieu, and Stratford
community plans.
 In 2010, the Golden and Paradise Beach
Ratepayers Association worked with
Wellington Shire Council and Parks Victoria
to reduce the dumping of rubbish around the
town centre. Rubbish collection was increased
to Parks Victoria camping areas and this
service is likely to continue during peak holiday
periods.
 A tree planting workshop was held at the
Wurruk Community House in 2006. More than
50 people attended and tube trees were given
away.
Reference - Coordinator Sustainability.
Highlights:
 Major Streetscape improvements completed
in Cowwarr and Stratford in 2008.
 Heyfield obtained $10,000 from the
Community Improvement Fund, to work with
VicRoads to develop an approved replacement
for the ‘Servicing our Community’ sign on three
entrances to Heyfield.
 Wellington Shire Council funding of $50,000
was allocated to support the Golden Beach
Town Concept Plan in 2010.
 Work on the enlarged Anzac Park in
Briagolong will continue with the Briagolong
Garden Club.
 The Cowwarr Main Park was improved as
part of the 2009 capital works program.
 Tree planting works were completed in
Maffra to enhance the town entry.
 A domestic waste and recycling collection
solution established in Mann’s Beach.
 Wellington Shire Council Officers continue
to work with property owners in such
communities as Rosedale and Golden Beach
to ensure a high standard of property amenity.
Reference - Manager Natural Environment and Parks.
Highlights:
 Investigation will be undertaken in November
2011 regarding road maintenance/flooding
issues following the street scheme in
Briagolong.
 The road from Fawaz St to Gordon St
Reserve in Heyfield will be sealed in February
2012.
 Bollards were installed on ‘Back Track’
(Recreation Reserve) between Grenfell St &
Finisterre Drive in The Honeysuckles in 2008.
 Sealing of the main road to the car park in
Mann’s Beach has been completed.
 Development of a local traffic precinct in
McLoughlins Beach has commenced.
 Footpaths were completed from Prince Street
to Queen Street, Rosedale in 2009.
 In 2009, Wellington Shire Council requested
VicRoads to support the Robertson’s Beach
and Tarraville community by installing a
‘50km/h ahead’ sign on behalf of the CRG,
which has been installed.
 In 2008, through a request from the Stratford
CRG, VicRoads agreed to paint lines at
the bridge and roundabout in an effort to
encourage motorists to stay in the right-hand
lanes.
 VicRoads is currently undertaking work to
improve access to Wurruk.
 A bitumen road scheme was developed for
the Golden and Paradise Beach community.
Reference - General Manager Built and Natural Environment.
Environment
Town Centres
Roads

highlights
7
Community Representative Groups (CRGs)
and other community groups and associations
regularly provide additional feedback and
assistance. Many Wellington Shire Council
projects and initiatives could not take place
without this involvement. Recent examples
include:
Land Use Planning
 The Heyfield and Rosedale Structure Plan
projects.
 The Yarram, Maffra and Stratford Industrial
Land Strategy project adopted by Wellington
Shire Council on 5 July 2011.
 Implementation of the Coastal Urban Design
Frameworks (UDFs) through Amendment C50
to support better design and development
outcomes in Loch Sport, Golden Beach/
Paradise Beach, The Honeysuckles, Seaspray,
Woodside Beach, McLoughlins Beach, Mann’s
Beach and Robertson’s Beach.
Business and Tourism Associations...
in several major towns plan for and work
towards creating opportunities for economic
growth and increased visitor numbers.
 Wellington Shire Council facilitated six
Business Roundtable discussions in 2010/2011
to encourage coordinated planning.
 Wellington Shire Council also worked with
local stakeholders to enable development
of the Criterion Hotel in Sale. This site was
identified by the community as important to the
town’s appeal.
The Great Walks in Wellington Booklet...
developed by Wellington Shire Council in 2011
with additional support from Rural Access and
Wellington Primary Care Partnership.
A Gippsland Water managed sewerage
scheme...
in Lake Glenmaggie is going ahead and will be
finalised by the end of 2013.
Wellington Shire Council’s decision
making...
for the awarding of community events,
programs and facilities grants relies on input
from CRGs as members of the Community
Prioritisation Panel.
Since the establishment of CRGs and
the development of community planning,
Wellington Shire Council has developed a
Youth Council. Youth Council has engaged
with communities to develop youth initiatives
and attended CRG Forums to address current
priorities. Integration of youth priorities in
community planning has not occurred across
all townships and communities will be further
encouraged to include young people in
community groups and the planning process.
Reference - Youth Liaison Coordinator.
In some cases CRGs have specifically
included access and inclusion in their plans-
e.g. Focus on developing an “Accessible
Stratford”. Others have highlighted projects
relating to footpaths and streetscapes that will
improve access for people with limited mobility.
Access and Inclusion, particularly for people
with disabilities, is considered in all Wellington
Shire Council projects and initiatives. There is
an organisation wide commitment to integrate
access and inclusion considerations across
all stages of planning. The Wellington Access
and Inclusion Advisory Group (WAIAG) has
provided consultancy to Wellington Shire
Council to work towards achieving universal
access across all aspects of Wellington Shire
Council business.
Reference - Rural Access Coordinator.
Other
Involvement
Youth
Access &
Inclusion

Challenges
8
While the many community
plan highlights should be
celebrated, it is also important
to acknowledge that some
priorities are not completed,
for various reasons. In order
to learn, this section outlines
seven key challenges faced
in local community planning,
from a Wellington Shire
Council perspective.
Council Capacity
1. Wellington Shire
Council has defined
budgets/resources
and all maintenance is
scheduled.
There are numerous
strategies that outline
longer term goals and
processes as part
of a holistic, Shire-
wide approach. These
strategies are a reference
point for community plan
priorities.
All current strategies can be
found on Wellington Shire
Council’s website.
Examples:
 There is an annual Wellington
Shire Council budget and
schedule for road works.
Wellington Shire Council’s Road
Management Plan designates
the service level provided
for urban and rural roads in
Wellington Shire.
 Previous and current footpath
priorities are being referred to
the Wellington Shire Council
Walking and Cycling Strategy.
This strategy is currently under
development and CRGs will
be key stakeholders in its
development.
 Many plans indicate that a
lack of street lighting is a safety
concern in their community. The
current Wellington Shire Council
annual budget for the expansion
of street lighting is $5,000.
Therefore, not all community
plan priorities for street lighting
can be achieved without a
budget review.
 Wellington Shire Council’s
Pools Strategic Plan identifies
priority areas for pool
refurbishment and development.
Responding to community
need and providing sustainable
facilities are important
considerations.
Continued over page 
For more information on annual budgets,
maintenance schedules, capital works,
policies, and short and long term priority
action areas, see below:
Trails, native vegetation, township
beautification, weeds and municipal waste
and recycling:
Environmental Sustainability Strategy
(Manager Natural Environment and Parks).
Transport, emergency planning, access
and inclusion, youth, aged care, community
grants, community planning:
Arts and Culture Strategy, Community
Wellbeing Strategy (Manager Community
Wellbeing).
Roads, Wellington Shire Council buildings and
facilities, drainage:
Road Management Plan, Built Environment
Strategy (Manager Built Environment)
Land zoning, design, and heritage overlays
(Manager Land Use Planning)
Recreation facilities, walking and cycling
paths:
Pools Strategic Plan, Physical Activity
Strategy (Manager Healthy Lifestyles)
Tourism and business:
Economic Development and Tourism Strategy
(Manager Economic Development)
Stray animals, littering, Local Laws:
Municipal Services Strategy (Manager
Municipal Services)
CARS, communications:
Community Engagement Strategy (Executive
Manager Community Consultation and
Communications)

Challenges
9
Communication
3. A lack of
consultation may
result in priorities
that are not
necessarily owned
by the community;
thereby limiting the
level of commitment
and participation.
Similarly, insufficient
communication with
relevant organisations
may result in some
identified community
plan priorities lacking
detail, a strong evidence
base and/or a solid
understanding of the
logistics of the project.
This can often result in
heightened community
expectations and a
lack of coordination.
Furthermore, changes
in Wellington Shire
Council staff and/or CRG
personnel can also result
in ambiguity regarding
what is to be achieved.
Strong communication
channels are essential
for priorities to be
well understood by all
parties involved in the
implementation.
4. In 2010,
Wellington Shire
Council introduced
a new reporting
system for staff
to report on
actions relevant
to community and
Wellington Shire
Council plans.
Prior to this, there were
internal difficulties in
streamlining information
and ensuring relevant
Council staff were
aware of and committed
to community plan
priorities.
5. Responsibility
for actions is not
always clear.
Implementation of these
actions can become
confused without strong
communication between:
 CRGs and Wellington
Shire Council.
 Different Wellington
Shire Council business
units.
 CRGs, Wellington
Shire Council and
external agencies.
Examples:
 Repairing the
Glenmaggie Bridge has
been on Wellington Shire
Council’s agenda for
some time, and there is
provision in the 2011/12
capital budget; however,
the project is currently
held up by National Trust
and Heritage Victoria.
 Speed limits
throughout Wellington
Shire are set according
to VicRoads’ guidelines
and compliance is
a policing issue.
Speed limit and other
road issues can be
complicated and often
involve multiple agencies
and groups.
Council Capacity (Cont)
2. Community plan priorities that involve
requests for new services or infrastructure
may impact on other communities. All
service levels need to be equitably offered
and maintained across the Shire, often with
unique considerations for urban, regional and
rural areas.
Example:
 Changes in the mobile library timetable
to enable visits to new communities may
impact on present communities receiving the
service.
There is currently no free time in the existing
timetable and future changes will depend
on the development of new static libraries.
Furthermore, serving very small communities
with a mobile library has previously proven
unsuccessful.
Below is a list of commonly used external
agencies involved in community planning.
Contact details can be obtained through
Wellington Shire Council’s Community
Planning Officer.
 VicRoads
 Heritage Victoria
 Southern Rural Water
 Gippsland Water
 Dept. of Sustainability and
Environment
 Dept of Planning and
Community Development
 Catchment Management
Authorities
 Regional Arts Victoria
 Regional Development
Victoria
 Dept of Transport

Challenges
10
Processes
Community &
CRG Capacity
6. There is often
ambiguity surrounding
what belongs in a
community plan and what
should be submitted as a
Customer Action Request
(CARS).
There are a range of examples
across the various community
plans, where priorities of an
immediate nature could be
dealt with through customer
service rather than community
plans. Immediate repair and
maintenance issues (wandering
dogs, road hazards) should be
submitted as CARS requests
where long-term priorities,
visions and capital works are
better suited to community
plans.
7. Inevitably, some CRGs
will be stronger and better
supported than others.
This can be due to the nature of
the individuals involved and/or
the community. The personnel
involved in developing and
implementing community plans
undoubtedly has an impact on
the level of success. CRGs and
other similar groups seem to be
more effective in smaller towns;
however, this is not universal.
Some restricting issues can
include:
 A lack of general awareness
about the CRG or similar group
 Confusion surrounding the
role of the group and scope of
their objectives
 Difficulty in coordinating with
the community (e.g. location
and time issues for farming
communities)
 Perceived lack of support from
 Excessive reliance on
Wellington Shire Council to
achieve objectives
 Perception of the group not
representing the dynamics and
diversity of the community
 Personality conflicts

nextsteps
11
A number of community plans are due to be
reviewed over the next 18 months, thereby
leading to the development of this report. As
plans are being reviewed, the following may
need to be considered:
Public Transport
The Transport Connections Program (TCP) Phase
3 (2010-2013) will no longer have a focus on
public transport. The new focus for this program
is about developing and implementing innovative
local and regional initiatives. Implementation
directions will now require partnerships to
concentrate on initiatives such as better use of
community transport resources, new outreach
models to bring services to people, better
information for people about existing transport
options, active transport including walking and
cycling, car sharing and car pooling.
Community Improvement Fund
The Community Improvement Fund is available
to CRGs and other local groups to help with the
realisation of community plans. There is $10,000
available for the duration of each plan to fund
specific projects. Some examples of groups
utilising the fund include:
 The Golden Paradise Beach CRG obtained
$10,000 to improve a range of town amenities
including the installation of solar panels on the
community hall.
 $10,000 was granted for a feasibility study for
the Tinamba Hall
 $3000 was granted for various community plan
objectives in Robertson’s Beach
Please contact Wellington Shire Council’s
Community Planning Officer for more
information.
Next
Steps
Enhancement of the
Community
Planning Model
Wellington Shire Council is currently
undertaking consultation with staff,
Councillors, and community members to
gain feedback on the community planning
process. It is our aim to continue enhancing
the model and make the process as
useful, beneficial and inclusive for as many
stakeholders as possible. Wellington Shire
Council is very conscious that a crucial part
of community planning is communication
and will therefore work to ensure that
information flows seamlessly amongst
stakeholders.
It is important to note that all information
in this report highlights the community
planning situation, as perceived by
Wellington Shire Council. Throughout this
process, more feedback will be sought from
Wellington Shire Council officers, CRGs
and similar groups and other community
members to ensure current information is
gathered from all key stakeholders.
An important stage in receiving feedback
from CRGs will be the CRG forum, details
for which are as follows:
Community
Planning Forum
Wednesday 23 November, 2011
6.00 - 9.00pm
Wellington Shire Council - Wellington Room
A light dinner will be provided
Please RSVP to Will Oakley on 5142 3462
or will.oakley@wellington.vic.gov.au

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