Staying healthy and well is important in good times and trying times. Drought, flood, bushfires and change in prices can be a trying time for many farmers. The times when we least feel like looking after ourselves are when we need to do it the most.The National Centre for Farmer Health have a number of support services available if you need support.
Published on 09 October 2025
A clear direction for the next four years has been set with the endorsement of the new Council Plan 2025-2029 at last night’s Southern Grampians Shire Council meeting.
The Plan, which was developed through extensive engagement with the community, outlines a vision for a thriving, connected and sustainable Shire. It focuses on five key priority areas, those being Social and Community; Business, Economy and Tourism; Community Infrastructure and Assets; Environment; and Leadership and Governance. Each of these areas has been given their own clear strategies and measures to guide progress.
The Plan includes the Disability Action Plan and Municipal Health and Wellbeing Plan. In previous years the Municipal Health and Wellbeing Plan was a separate document but has been absorbed into the wider Council Plan.
The final Plan was informed by community feedback received through public exhibition, with more than a dozen key changes made in response to local input. Development of the Plan commenced with community meetings in each of our small towns as well as the opening of a shop front in Gray Street, Hamiton.
Southern Grampians Shire Council Mayor Dennis Heslin welcomed the plan, calling it a reflection of what the community values most.
“We embarked on a series of engagement initiatives to try to capture as accurate a snapshot of our residents as possible. Adding to our usual methods of engagement, this time we rented out a shopfront in Hamilton. Councillors and Council staff met face to face with anyone and everyone who wished to discuss the future of our Shire.
“Using a system of dots, where residents were invited to mark their biggest priorities, we were able to gather extraordinarily useful feedback from exactly the people this plan hopes to represent. We had a terrific turnout and some really useful conversations.
“This Plan is shaped directly by the ideas, opinions and voices of our residents. It sets out how we’ll work together to strengthen local business, support vibrant towns, protect our environment, and ensure our community remains an inclusive and resilient place to live.”
Some of the changes that came directly from community feedback include stronger recognition of our built heritage, a commitment to emergency preparedness and environmental protection, clearer targets for housing and tree canopy expansion, and new strategies to attract events, boost tourism and support young people transitioning into employment.
The Plan also emphasises transparent governance, more robust service delivery, and enhanced community engagement to ensure residents remain at the heart of Council’s decision-making.
To support the Plan, Council develops an Annual Plan each year, detailing key projects and initiatives that deliver on its long-term objectives. Progress will be measured and reported annually through the Council’s Annual Report.
“This document is a promise to our community,” Mayor Heslin said. “It’s about setting the kinds of goals our residents care about and then delivering on them.”
The Council Plan 2025–2029 can be viewed on Council’s website or in person at Council’s Customer Service Centres and the Hamilton Library. If you would like to see a timeline of how this plan came together, you can view it here.