East Gippsland Shire Council has officially adopted an updated version of its Community Vision 2040 – which expresses the aspirations, values and priorities of the community – following a comprehensive review shaped by community engagement.
Council is required under legislation to maintain and adopt a Community Vision document, developed through deliberative engagement.
An extensive engagement program to review the Community Vision began in July 2024, reaching more than 2500 community members. This included 1400 participants in a live voting exercise held at over 30 locations, over 955 people engaging through the online engagement platform, 155 survey responses, and 70 photo competition entries. Winning images from the photo competition feature in the final Vision document. In December 2024, a 22-member community panel was formed to consolidate the broader community’s feedback and finalise the revised Community Vision.
This inclusive approach ensured that the community’s voices were heard and reflected in the updated Vision, which remains aligned with East Gippsland’s priorities. The high level of participation demonstrates the community’s commitment to shaping the region’s future.
A community panel member highlighted the success of the process, stating: “This was a brilliant way for council to engage with the community on shaping the future of East Gippsland through a community panel. It was a modern, inclusive approach, and I really enjoyed being part of it.”
The updated Community Vision 2040 reaffirms the existing priorities, which are that by 2040, our people, place, environment and economy will be inclusive, connected, sustainable and resilient for the growth and wellbeing of our unique and diverse communities.
Only minor adjustments were made, to improve clarity. Changes include:
– A revised Vision Statement to ensure greater clarity and conciseness.
– The four Vision Themes remaining unchanged, with slight wording adjustments to some priorities.
– The removal of one priority that did not reflect broader community sentiment.
Mayor Cr John White thanked all who participated in the review, acknowledging the time and effort invested.
“This process shows the strong alignment between council’s vision and the priorities of our community,” Cr White said.
“We are grateful to everyone who took part in shaping this document, which will continue to guide our planning and decision-making for the years ahead.”
