Community, Sporting and Early Years Infrastructure Planning

Have your say on the draft plans that will guide investment in our community facilities!

Council have conducted extensive research and stakeholder conversations to identify current and future demand levels and needs for our much-loved community facilities.

The draft Community Infrastructure Plan, Sporting Infrastructure Plan and Early Years Infrastructure Plan detail the support Council will provide to halls, recreation reserves, kindergartens, childcare centres, and other community facilities like senior citizen centres and museums over the coming years.

The current engagement phase is asking the community to provide feedback on the three draft Infrastructure Plans.

The draft documents are now available for review in the document library. Please have a read and then complete our feedback survey or attend one of our discussion sessions to have your say on these important plans.

Consultation closes Sunday 10 October 2021.

Overview

The Community Infrastructure Plan (CIP) has been developed to assess the capacity of existing community infrastructure (halls, senior citizens, museums, meeting spaces etc.) in Wellington Shire. Strengthening community wellbeing, identity and resilience. Wellington has an extensive array of community facilities that support the community, and in some cases there are more facilities than a community needs or can maintain. There are many opportunities to change or improve infrastructure to respond more effectively to community needs and increase the use and activation of community places and spaces.  

The Sporting Infrastructure Plan (SIP) will help guide the future prosperity of organised sport throughout the Shire by providing better facilities, supporting improved Committee of Management (CoM) operations and encouraging better use to attract more participation. The SIP aims to assist in identifying facility priorities and gaps, as well as proposing new operational models for the effective and sustainable delivery of sport across Wellington.

The Early Years Infrastructure Plan (EYIP) has been developed to assess the capacity of existing early years infrastructure in Wellington Shire, supporting the delivery of early years services that are responsive to the needs of children and their families. This includes, kindergarten, childcare, Maternal and Child Health Services, immunisation, community and supported playgroups, toy libraries and parent or family support.

Key findings of the three plans 

• there is a need for capital investment in upgrades and renewal projects at existing facilities

• no new / expansion projects are required EXCEPT where co-located with early years services

• there is a need for capital investment in upgrades and renewal projects

• no new / expansion projects are required EXCEPT where already part of a strategy or plan (e.g. as part of growth area structure plan)

• there is a need for capital investment in new and expanded kindergarten facilities in the next 8 years in various locations across the shire

• demand is increasing due to the roll out of funded 3 year old kindergarten

• if we do nothing, we will have a reduction in 4 year old kindergarten and child care places

• enrolments in 4 year old kindergarten are already declining

For more information, please contact Mark Benfield, Coordinator Community Facilities Planning on 5142 3194 or markbe@wellington.vic.gov.au.

How to have your say

You can provide your feedback by:

• Reading the draft plans, which are located in the document library.
• Reading the FAQs
• Completing the feedback survey or asking a question
• Attending one or more of our online discussion sessions (details below). Click here for the zoom link to your preferred session.
• Contacting Mark Benfield Coordinator Community Facilities Planning on 5142 3194 or markbe@wellington.vic.gov.au

Online discussion sessions

Click here for the zoom link to your preferred session.

What happens next?

Once you have provided your feedback using the survey or by attending an online consultation session, we will collate, review and analyse the feedback received. We will produce a summary/report on what we heard and how we are using your input, comments and ideas.