Have your Say

Council invites residents to have their say around what services and projects are important to you, to help us prioritise funding for the 2023-2024 Annual Budget.

The Annual Budget is a key part of Council’s planning for the future. Using the Council Plan as a road map, the budget sets out funding for Council priorities to build a growing, inclusive and connected community that fosters sustainability, diversity and innovation.

Like all rural councils, Southern Grampians Shire faces significant funding pressures in a rate-capped environment, so planning future spending on services and programs for our community is critical.

Council invites you to comment on where you would focus budget expenditure.

To provide feedback, complete the survey here.

Feedback closes Wednesday 21 December 2022.

Have your say on a new plan for natural areas in the Southern Grampians Shire.

Our region holds significant environmental and landscape values, that are important for their intrinsic value, as well as being an important component of the Shire’s tourism industry and liveability.

The Southern Grampians Shire Council are working to develop a Plan for Nature for the Shire. The plan will provide a shared vision between Council, community, Traditional Owners and other key regional stakeholders, and set out strategies and actions to protect and enhance biodiversity and natural areas across the region.

The plan aims to:

• Identify high priority biodiversity/conservation areas on both public and private land for protection
• Identify the shortfalls in the Shire’s planning scheme and required updates to protect these areas
• Review and prioritise the development or renewal of existing management plans for reserves that are now outdated
• Prioritise the focus for future Council investments in the protection of nature across the shire.

How can you get involved?

There are a number of ways you can get involved. Check out our online interactive map and accompanying survey to help understand where you think areas of high biodiversity and natural value are within the shire. The online map and survey will allow you to highlight and comment on specific locations within the Shire, as well as express your thoughts, experiences and ideas. You could also send us your favourite natural asset photo via council@sthgrampians.vic.gov.au or via our Facebook page.

You can also pop into the Library and check out the map on the big screen or fill out a hardcopy of the survey at the Brown Street Customer Service Centre.

Click here for the online map and survey.

Feedback closes Friday 23 December 2022.

Council is seeking engagement and personal stories from the community to highlight the need for improved public transport in our region. In the recent 'Hamilton Moves' project engagement, better public transport connections was a frequent suggestion.

Regional bus services from Hamilton to key regional centres such as Ballarat, Mt Gambier and Warrnambool are of particular concern. We know access to Ballarat is critical for residents to effectively access employment, social connectedness, and essential medical appointments. We know access to Warrnambool is critical for hundreds of South West TAFE students who rely on being in Warrnambool for workshop/technical training. Currently there is no service that allows residents to complete a days work or study with return to the region in the same day. Warrnambool and Ballarat are key locations for medical services not available in Hamilton along with other support services. Public transport access into Coleraine is also severely limited and would be addressed with an improved coach service.

Ahead of the upcoming State election, we're calling on a commitment to improved public transport for our region and we need your help.

We want to hear from you. Tell us the challenges you have faced because of the lack of adequate public transport in Southern Grampians Shire.

Click on our map or survey and add in your comments to help us achieve better Public Transport services in our region!

Share your public transport stories with us via this link and lend your voice to the campaign for better public transport for Southern Grampians Shire.