August 2023 Council Meeting wrap

Last updated on 24 August 2023

A number of important items were endorsed by Council at this week’s Council Meeting, including:

Draft Gisborne Futures Structure Plan (Consultation period: 2 October – 13 November): The draft Gisborne Futures Structure Plan, which was endorsed for community consultation, provides direction for Gisborne’s long-term planning and development, including a settlement boundary to accommodate projected growth until 2050.

The culmination of significant planning work and community feedback since 2018, this latest version of the draft Structure Plan responds to the community feedback received to the 2020 draft and proposes shaping Gisborne and New Gisborne as vibrant and attractive ‘twin villages’, including a new town centre for New Gisborne to reduce the dependency on the existing Gisborne town centre.

Consultation will commence after the September school holidays. More information on the draft Structure Plan will be available at the Have Your Say page closer to the opening of consultation.

Community Local Law 2023: To take effect from 25 September 2023, the new Community Local Law 2023 sets out a range of localised regulations in the Macedon Ranges – from permits to rubbish, to pets – for the next decade.

Shaped by extensive community feedback, clauses to a range of matters have been added or updated to better suit the needs our community and our environment including changes to burning off restrictions and improved regulations around unsightly and dangerous land, and new clauses for items such as gambling advertisements and the use of fireworks on private land.

A detailed report has been produced to summarise key themes of community feedback received, and how the Community Local Law has responded to this feedback where appropriate. Visit the Local Laws page for more information.

Eppalock Special Water Supply Catchment (Amendment C145macr): Council will submit Amendment C145macr to the Minister for Planning for approval, endorsing changes to the Environmental Significance Overlay (ESO4) in the Macedon Ranges Planning Scheme.

The Amendment aims to better balance the needs of the Eppalock Special Water Supply Catchment with the needs of landowners. It seeks to reduce permit requirements where they are not required to protect local waterways and the catchment, but still requires permits where proposals may impact negatively on the catchment.

The ESO4 covers about a third of the Macedon Ranges including the townships of Woodend, Kyneton, Malmsbury and Lauriston, also stretching into neighbouring Mount Alexander, Hepburn and Greater Bendigo councils.

Australia Day events: Consistent with Council’s ongoing collaboration with – and support for – the shire’s three Traditional Owner groups and First Nations residents, and in recognition of the grief and sadness expressed around the date, Council will not host events on 26 January next year.

Annual community awards will instead be held on 25 January alongside a citizenship ceremony, consistent with the most recent advice from the Department of Home Affairs (councils must hold a citizenship ceremony either on Australia Day, or within the three days prior or three days after).

Council will also continue to support the community through the Australia Day grants program, with the funding cap doubled to $1,000 for local groups to host an event on any day within a week either side of 26 January (including on the date). These events will need to be consistent with either traditional Australia Day events or other activities respectful of First Nations Australians.

In other matters, Council noted the successful aged care service transition and ongoing initiatives to support the shire’s older population, while also adopting a new Risk Management Policy that supports the revised Risk Management Framework and integration into day-to-day operations.

Council also approved the carry forward of project funding into the new financial year, allowing key projects and initiatives to continue delivery during 2023/24. In addition Council identified initiatives nominated for funding through Phase 4A and 4B of the Australian Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program.

Video recordings of past Council meetings are available here (generally available within two business days of a meeting).