Have your say on council projects

As part of its budget planning process, Baw Baw Shire wants community members to have their say on what should be council’s top priorities.

Council will soon begin preparing its budget for the 2019-20 financial year, including reviewing capital works commitments to footpaths, sports facilities, community facilities, buildings and roads.

As part of the process, council wants to know the community’s top priorities and use the feedback in preparation of its council plan, budget and capital works planning.

Community members are encouraged to identify and submit their top three priorities for council to assist with forward planning.

This preliminary consultation will be conducted via a simple online survey on council’s website.

Following this round of initial consultation, feedback will be consolidated, reviewed and considered for inclusion in forward planning documents such as the draft budget - which will once again go out for community consultation prior to adoption.

Mayor Mikaela Power said council was working hard to increase engagement with the community to find out what the top priorities were for council.

“Through this process we want to work alongside our residents to help plan for and deliver the things that matter most to them.

“Get involved Baw Baw and help shape the places where you live, work and play,” she said.

Cr Danny Goss said council had to think about the long term and plan appropriately.

“It is so important that council allocates its spending where ratepayers see the greatest need.

“I am very interested to see what people think and I encourage everybody to have a say. Your views are very important if we want to make Baw Baw a better place to live.

“We’re keen to try new ways of engaging the community, and we’re hoping that this simple survey will provide a quick way for more residents to engage with us in our annual planning,” he said.

A similar Have Your Say consultation initiative was held by council last year, allowing community members to identify needs and priorities.

The consultation also supplements the formal submission procedure as part of council’s budget adoption process.

Community members are encouraged to have their say via the Have Your Say section on council’s website www.bawbawshire.vic.gov.au/HaveYourSay

Community members are asked to provide their contact details along with their feedback via the online survey, and will be kept in the loop with progress on the Council Plan review, draft budget and capital works planning.

The form also allows community members an opportunity to indicate if they want to address council at a meeting early next year.

The survey will close on December 20.