Council Plan guides Whitehorse’s future


Whitehorse City Council has set priorities and objectives to guide the organisation over the next four years and beyond as part of its updated Council Plan.

Whitehorse Mayor Sharon Ellis said Council was required under the Local Government Act 1989 to review its Council Plan each year to determine whether it required any adjustment. 

“Whitehorse’s Council Plan 2013-2017 has now entered its second year and continues to reflect the goals and aspirations of Council and the Whitehorse community. Council is confident the plan will be an effective working document to achieve growth, service provision and care for the community throughout the municipality,” Cr Ellis said. 

Following an extensive development and consultation process, the Council Plan 2013-2017 was originally adopted in June 2013, and includes the strategic objectives of Council, strategies to achieve these objectives over the life of the plan, strategic indicators and a Strategic Resource Plan that identifies the resources required to achieve these objectives. An update of the Council Plan to incorporate the 2014-18 Strategic Resource Plan was adopted by Council at a meeting on 28 April 2014. 

As part of the Council Plan, Council’s strategic objectives for the next four years are:

  • Appropriate multipurpose programs, services, facilities and initiatives that promote and deliver wellbeing and inclusive connected communities
  • Maintain, develop and enhance our built environment
  • Increase in the amount of quality open space and improvement in the sustainability of our natural environment
  • Strong leadership and governance in partnership with the community and supported through regional collaboration and cooperation
  • A dynamic local economic environment that is regionally connected.

“The plan is integral in ensuring that Council remains financially sustainable for the longer term, and ensures consolidation of Council’s steady progress towards achieving all sustainability measures set by the Victorian Auditor General,” Cr Ellis said. 

“It identifies broad strategies that will guide Council’s actions and will inform the development of Council’s annual budgets.” 

The plan outlines that Council will achieve an underlying operating surplus in all years it covers, while placing higher priority on capital works renewal by increasing the maintenance on existing infrastructure assets. 

The plan also requires prudent drawing down of cash reserves and responsible use of debt to fund major community infrastructure projects. 

The Council Plan is available from Whitehorse’s library branches, Customer Service Centres and can be downloaded at www.whitehorse.vic.gov.au

For more information visit the City of Whitehorse