Council
16 July, 2026
Council on track to deliver long-term vision
COUNCILLORS have voted to adopt their second-year initiatives as part of the Council Plan 2025-2029 at Corangamite Shire Council’s recent Ordinary Meeting of Council
Each year, Corangamite Shire Council reviews its four-year plan to ensure it remains current and relevant while also outlining what initiatives will be actioned throughout the year.
Governance officer Imogen Black said the recent review saw no amendments needed for the four-year plan.
“The themes reflect the key priorities of council and there is strong alignment between the Council Plan, the initiatives, the Budget and the Corangamite Shire Community Vision,” she said.
“The year two Council Plan initiatives have been developed into a key document that demonstrates what actions and activities will be undertaken in the financial year.
“The initiatives have been developed concurrently with the Budget.
“The initiatives provide an important means for tracking progress in delivering the Council Plan.
“The initiatives address considerations identified in the Council Plan and set out 44 actions categorised as projects, policies, plans and strategies, and programs.
“In addition, 14 advocacy priorities have been identified for council within the initiatives.”
The plan includes 58 initiatives which include 44 actions characterised under projects, policy, plan or strategy, service and advocacy.
Projects include a contribution to improve access, heating and lighting at the Civic Hall in Terang, implementing resilience programs to heighten community emergency preparedness and to implement the Active Corangamite Investment Attraction Strategy.
Initiatives under policy, plan or strategy include implementing actions from the Unlocking Housing Program, and reviewing council advocacy priorities with regard of the outcomes identified in the action plan.
Initiatives listed under service include exploring the expansion of childcare, undertaking playground improvement, and implementing improvements to intersections of Cobden-Terang Road.
Advocacy will include the renewal and upgrade of state roads, an appeal for energy-efficient lighting on state-owned main roads and support and advocacy for the provision of appropriate aged-care living in Terang.
Councillor Geraldine Conheady moved the motion to adopt the policy, praising the overall quality and quantity of the actionable initiatives.
“We have identified and agreed the Council Plan remains relevant and that we still a strong alignment between the plan and initiatives for 2026-2027 Budget and Community Vision,” she said.
“The Community Vision is an important element for us.
“We do respect what our community asks for, and those initiatives are responding to what our community wants and a lot of our council directions as well.
“There’s a substantial number of actions in the plan and I’m really impressed by what we’re seeing.
“I see we’re advocating for roads and aged care, still retaining focus on housing and population growth, and childcare – which is a big one in the shire at the moment.”
Cr Conheady said it was a positive to review the plan on an annual basis despite it not being a requirement of council.
“I think its good practice to review those yearly initiatives, even though we don’t actually have to,” she said.
“It keeps us focused on what we need to be doing and ensure that focus remains relevant.
“We also need the ability to ensure our resources can cope, and that we have the capability to deliver what’s in the action plan.”
The plan was adopted with unanimous support from councillors.