Have your say on Council's Draft Flag policy

Published on 20 March 2023

Residents are encouraged to have their say on a draft Gannawarra Shire Council policy that will guide how requests to fly flags outside Council buildings or on Council-managed flag poles are considered.

Councillors approved a recommendation at the March 2023 Council Meeting for the development of the Draft Flag policy and accompanying Community Flag Schedule to proceed to the community engagement phase, with feedback to be accepted up to 5pm Wednesday, 12 April.

The draft policy governs the flying of flags outside the Kerang Council Building and Garden Park, Cohuna, locations in the municipality where flags can be flown on a temporary basis, and the process to apply for a request to fly additional flags.

“Requests received by Council last year to fly flags to promote causes within the municipality highlighted the need for a policy to address requests and where these flags can be flown,” Mayor Charlie Gillingham said.

“The Draft Flag policy and accompanying Community Flag Schedule addresses Council’s compliance to the Flags Act 1953 and The Australian flags – part 2: The protocols for the appropriate use and the flying of the flag, which outlines the flying of the Australian, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island flags outside government buildings.

“The draft policy also outlines how residents can request to fly flags not listed in the Community Flag Schedule, including appropriate conditions.”

Residents can have their say on the Draft Flag policy and Community Flag Schedule by 5pm Wednesday, 12 April in the following ways:

“All feedback received during the community engagement period will assist with the development of the final version of Council’s Flag policy and Community Flag Schedule, which will be presented to Council at a later date for consideration,” Mayor Gillingham said.

For more information regarding the Draft Flag policy and accompanying Community Flag Schedule, please visit www.gsc.vic.gov.au/flags