Council Meeting wrap up – February 2026

Key items considered and endorsed at the Council Meeting held on 25 February 2026 are outlined below.

Consideration of Planning Panel and Adoption of Amendment c147macr – Benetas

Council adopted Planning Scheme Amendment C147macr and supported planning permit PLN/2022/354, enabling a new retirement village on land bounded by Robertson, Neal, and Hamilton streets in Gisborne. 

Following a review by Planning Panels Victoria, the combined Amendment and Permit were deemed strategically justified and likely to meet an important community need. Council has adopted the Amendment with recommended changes – with an amended motion also requiring a Section 173 Agreement to restrict the future use of the land to only a ‘Retirement Village’ and/or ‘Residential Aged Care Facility’ – and will submit it to the Minister for Planning for approval, while also requesting the Minister grant the associated planning permit. 

Australia Day Award Recipients 2026

Council congratulated local recipients of the 2026 Australia Day Awards. Ms Dianne Dale received the Emergency Services Medal for her dedication to assisting people in crisis. Emeritus Professor Colin Chapman was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his significant contributions to pharmacy and pharmaceutical science. The late Mr Graham Dickinson was posthumously awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his service to the Gisborne community in tourism, human rights, and religion.  

Small Projects Grant Recommendations

Council has approved a Small Project Grant of $1,632 to Lancefield Men’s Shed to support their project, ‘Purchase of New PC and hardware’. The grant program, with an annual budget of $30,000, provides funding of up to $3,000 to not-for-profit groups for initiatives that meet local needs, are unlikely to be funded elsewhere, and align with Council Plan priorities.  

Goldfields Library Corporation transition

Council has approved the next steps to transition from the Goldfields Library Corporation to a new collective library service, Central Victorian Public Libraries Ltd, in partnership with the City of Greater Bendigo, Loddon Shire, and Mount Alexander Shire. This change, required under the Local Government Act 2020, ensures continued library services for the region beyond 1 July 2030. Council will become a founding member, appoint inaugural directors, and maintain services while finalising the new agreement with partner councils. 

Planning permits

Council also considered and made decisions on several planning-related matters, including: 

• 151 Ochiltrees Road, Romsey: Supporting the amendment to an existing permit for use and development of the land for domestic animal husbandry. 
• 48 High Street, Kyneton: Supporting use of the land for a restricted recreational facility (hot mat pilates and yoga) and signage. 
• 71 Somerville Lane, Riddells Creek: Supporting development of seven dwellings and subdivision into seven lots. 

Other items endorsed

• Adopt a new Compliance and Enforcement Policy to replace the current policy, with an endorsed amended motion adding a requirement for updates on compliance and enforcement every 6 months of this Council term. The new policy sets a fair, consistent, and transparent approach to compliance and enforcement across the organisation, and takes a stepped approach starting with education, then encouragement and finally enforcement action.
• Release the draft Kerbside Collection and Associated Services Charge Policy for a 4-week community consultation period. Last adopted in 2020, this Policy outlines the resource recovery services offered by Council and how cost recovery of those services is achieved. This consultation will inform finalisation of the Policy in preparation for Council’s consideration at a future Council meeting.
• Provide an update on the governance actions taken by Council in relation to a councillor conduct matter previously acknowledged publicly by Cr Dom Bonanno, and Council noted the outcome of external advice sought, which recommended that the matter be finalised.

Notices of Motion

Three Notices of Motion were also carried in relation to: 

• recognising and honouring Blanche Ross-Watt on International Women’s Day 2026, for her contributions and many achievements. These include being the second woman to be elected to a Council in Victoria – the Gisborne Council in 1925, and the first female Shire President in Victoria in 1931. 
• acknowledging advice received from the State Department that the Minister for Planning will act as the planning authority for a proposed development in Clarkefield. The proposal involves more than 2,000 new lots. Council has requested that the Minister ensure the community is informed and able to provide feedback, given the significance of the new township on local amenity, rural character, and alignment with the Macedon Ranges Statement of Planning Policy. 
• requesting that the Minister for Planning, with copies also sent to relevant Ministers, provide detailed clarification on the housing target of 13,200 additional homes by 2051 for the Macedon Ranges. The request seeks information on baseline data, housing definitions, counting methods, state‑intervened developments, and alignment with infrastructure delivery to ensure growth is measurable, properly tracked, and supported by adequate services. Council also plans to provide a public report by July 2026 summarising the Minister’s responses and detailing township-level housing and infrastructure data.