General News
6 May, 2024
Draft plans for Hepburn
In a significant move forward for the Future Hepburn project, the Hepburn Shire Council has endorsed the release of draft Township Structure Plans and Rural Hepburn: Agricultural Land & Rural Settlement Strategy. Hepburn Shire mayor Brian Hood...
In a significant move forward for the Future Hepburn project, the Hepburn Shire Council has endorsed the release of draft Township Structure Plans and Rural Hepburn: Agricultural Land & Rural Settlement Strategy.
Hepburn Shire mayor Brian Hood said the Future Hepburn project is the most important project council will deliver for many years and has the potential to touch every landowner and resident, now and into the future.
“Future Hepburn is a major, once-in-a-generation project,” he said.
“We’ve already heard from the community that they want council to protect and enhance the character of our townships and rural settlements. The strategic planning controls proposed in these key documents will help us appropriately manage future growth and development.
“We have already undertaken extensive community consultation to reach this phase of the project, but it’s important that we hear from the community now that we have draft documents.
“The draft Township Structure Plans and Rural Hepburn strategy have come about after feedback from community and stakeholder groups throughout 2023, along with specialist technical advice from consultants and council officers with expertise in planning, ecology, infrastructure, transport, recreation and economic development.
“Input from the community will help inform the final drafts of the five Township Structure Plans and Rural Strategy to be considered for adoption in the coming months.”
Community information sessions will be held throughout the shire in the coming weeks to enable the community to speak to planners or seek advice regarding potential impacts to properties.
Council will also write to all property owners in the shire, with local community information sessions to take place at:
• Creswick: Friday, May 17 from 5 to 8 pm at the RSL, 60 Albert Street, Creswick. Introduction presentation will commence at 7 pm.
• Trentham: Friday, May 24, from 5 to 8 pm at the Trentham Neighbourhood Centre, 56 High Street, Trentham. Introduction presentation will commence at 7pm.
• Clunes: Saturday, June 1, from 9 am to 12 pm at the Clunes Town Hall, 98 Bailey Street, Clunes. Introduction presentation will commence at 11am.
“Our community panels played an important role in providing direction and focus on the vision and objectives which, in turn, guided the development of the strategies and actions,” Cr Hood said.
“We look forward to working with these passionate community members again during this important phase of the project.”
The draft Township Structure Plans and Rural Hepburn strategy, community information session details and feedback forms are available on our Participate Hepburn site. Council will also make drafts and forms available at hubs and libraries in the shire.
For more information visit participate.hepburn.vic.gov.au/future-hepburn