December 2023 Council Meeting wrap

Last updated on 15 December 2023

A number of important items were endorsed at the last Council Meeting for 2023, including the adoption of four different plans, reports or strategies following earlier community consultation:

• the Macedon Ranges Shire Thematic Environmental History Report, which will be used to guide heritage protection and to inform the draft Heritage Strategy 2024. The report identifies the unique history that has played a role in the development of the shire over the last two centuries, covering key themes including how the environment was shaped, people migration and settlement and the development of industry and farming.
• the Stanley Park Environmental Management Plan for Stanley Park in Mount Macedon, which provides an updated vision for the park and will guide future revegetation projects. The 2023 EMP was developed in collaboration with the Stanley Park Community Asset Committee and Melbourne Water, providing revised guidance for the management of the reserve over the next ten years and informing an Infrastructure Master Plan for the reserve.
• the Climate Emergency Plan 2023-30 (CEP), developed through the Cooler-ER Changes initiative, which aims to accelerate action in the shire to address climate change. The CEP includes a total of 56 actions across six themes to mitigate and adapt to the current Climate Emergency, and was collaboratively developed alongside the community, relevant agencies and the Victorian Government.
• the Mobility and Road Safety Strategy 2023-32, which identifies key road safety issues in the shire and will assist in the implementation of proactive initiatives to enhance safety for all road users. The strategy supports Council and the Victorian Government's vision of reducing road fatalities and crash injuries within the Macedon Ranges over the next ten years. It also includes non-vehicle road user considerations in road design and targets a reduction in wildlife road trauma.

Council also endorsed a number of initiatives to go out for community consultation in early 2024, to account for the upcoming extended school holiday period and to support maximum engagement:

• Draft Complaint and Unreasonable Behaviour Policy: the draft policy outlines how Council will manage complaints and unreasonable behaviour and provides clear guidance for both the complainant and Council.  The draft will be available for public consultation in February 2024.
• Draft Special Charge Scheme Policy: this policy applies to Special Charge Scheme (SCS) infrastructure projects such as resident-funded upgrading of roads and drainage. It outlines the decision-making process and criteria for SCS projects where providing these services or infrastructure items is deemed to provide a special benefit to property owners or certain community members.
• Draft Fair Access Policy: this policy supports Council in the identification and removal of systemic factors contributing to gender inequality relating to the availability of quality community sports infrastructure at times that are suitable.

In other matters, Council:

• renewed an agreement with the North Central Goldfields Regional Library Corporation (the Corporation) to continue services whilst longer-term arrangements are being finalised
• endorsed the allocation of $12,150 to five applicants under the Small Project Grants program (funding for the 2023/24 program has now been expended, with the next round due to open on 1 July 2024).

Video recordings of past Council meetings are available at webcast.mrsc.vic.gov.au (generally available within two business days of a meeting).