Remark on shire’s plan for 2020 to 2024

“THE people of South Gippsland” are invited to remark on the South Gippsland Shire’s proposed council plan for 2020 to 2024.

The Victorian Government-appointed administration panel acting as the council endorsed the 34-page document at the ordinary council meeting held at Leongatha on Wednesday April 22, 2020.

The cover of the plan states that it is “proposed for community consultation”.

A quote attributed to the three administrators says that “it is the people of South Gippsland who will make this Shire an inviting place for all and realise the potential of our region” [by] “connecting our community …”

Comments and submissions on the plan are required by 5 pm on Thursday May 28, 2020.

South Gippsland administration panel chair Julie Eisenbise said she was “proud to present the Proposed Council Plan 2020-2024 to the community.

“I would like to thank Council staff and my fellow administrators for all their work so far on the Council Plan and for making it possible to release [the document] to the community for their review.

“Developing the Council Plan is an important step as our actions have implications for the community,” she said.

“We want to ensure that the Council Plan balances community needs and our ability to provide services.”

The panel described the Council Plan as being “fundamental to Council’s function as it determines the priorities and actions required over the next four years and which are supported by the Council Budget.

“Council determined that it was appropriate to create a new four-year Council Plan to guide the Administrators’ term and the start of the new Council’s term, to be elected in October 2021.”

The proposed plan incorporates four key objectives that together aim to “help South Gippsland prosper while ensuring that Council provides a high level of service to the community.”

The objectives are: United Shire, and a shared community direction; Economic Prosperity, with the shire as the cornerstone for local employment and business growth; Integrated Services and Infrastructure, to enhance liveability, and Customer Focused Organisation, with accountable decision-making.

The new overall council plan includes a vision statement, strategies for the future, a list of already provided services and adopted directions, targets and measures of success for each of the four objectives.

The document also features lists of “Annual Initiatives” for “Year 1” for each objective.

Several pages of information about the “Strategic Resource Plan” states this section of the council plan is “derived from the Annual Budget documentation”.

The Strategic Resource Plan describes the “financial and non-financial resource requirements over a four-year period to deliver the Council Plan”.

The draft council plan also has financial statements and summaries for the four years ending June 30, 2024 on forecast actual, budgeted and projected income, balances, equity changes, cash flows, capital works and staff numbers and costs.

Administrator Christian Zahra said the proposed council plan represented “a fresh start for South Gippsland Shire Council”.

“We’ve quite significantly changed the four strategic objectives, and now they are clearer and simpler” [than the previous council plan’s stated intentions].

“We welcome people participating in this process and we look forward to hearing their good ideas and opinions.”

Administrator Rick Brown said the proposed council plan “puts the shire first.

“We urge everybody to take a keen interest in this document.”

Make a submission via email to [email protected] or in writing to the Chief Executive Officer, South Gippsland Shire Council, Private Bag 4, Leongatha VIC 3953.

All submissions must be received by 5pm on Thursday May 28, 2020.

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