Direction set in South Gippsland

WEDNESDAY’S finalisation of a suite of integrated council plans was the culmination of months of work and record community consultation across South Gippsland Shire.

It was a vast undertaking for a group of councillors only elected last November, with eight of the nine not having previously served on council, the exception being mayor Mohya Davies.

Council plans have traditionally been devised separately, an approach that failed to recognise the knock-on effect that naturally occurs across a range of plans and strategies.

Many community groups and organisations were involved in the development of the integrated plans, through their input.

Victoria Police, Parks Victoria, Salvation Army, a number of the region’s community centres, local business associations, YMCA, South Gippsland Hospital, and Gippsland Southern Health Service were some of those marking the adoption of the plans at an evening celebration in Leongatha.

That followed the afternoon’s busy council meeting at which the final versions of the plans were unanimously passed, albeit with three councillors unable to attend.

The integrated approach to council plans was prescribed in the current Local Government Act 2020.

“Instead of each document being created separately, plans will now be developed alongside each other so that when complete they will fit together like a jigsaw puzzle,” Cr Davies said.

“The Vision informs the Council Plan, and in turn the Council Plan helped to direct the Budget initiatives and other strategies.”

Cr Davies said councillors are confident the community’s aspirations are reflected in the newly formed plans.

She spoke of the importance of council reconnecting with the community following the lengthy period in which administrators managed the shire.

“Engagement and honest conversations are the foundations on which we can rebuild trust with the South Gippsland community,” Cr Davies said.

As well as expressing her appreciation for the community’s involvement, the extensive efforts of council staff during the consultation period and creation of the plans was acknowledged.

Regional director of Regional Development Victoria, Sara Rhodes-Ward, spoke to Sentinel-Times about the importance of the integrated plans.

“The creation of the plans is fundamental in how local governments serve their communities,” she said.

She explained that as well as factoring in community aspirations and communicating council’s strategic direction to locals, the plans are of great value for council to foster productive relationships with organisations such as Regional Development Victoria.

“For organisations like mine, the opportunity to look at those documents is important, so when I’m interacting with South Gippsland Shire Council I’ve got a clear understanding of what their economic priorities are, what their liveability priorities are and what they see as their future aspirations for growth,” Sara said.

She praised both the councillors and the executive team led by council CEO Kerryn Ellis as “terrific partners in the work we do”.

Denise Massoud, president of the Victorian Local Governance Association, which supports councils by providing guidance, induction training and other programs, was excited to be present at the meeting and launch event.

She was delighted with the collaborative approach adopted by South Gippsland Shire’s still young council, noting that is how local government should work.
“It shouldn’t be adversarial,” she said, explaining it needs to operate like a Board.