Strategy for the future of our community CAMPASPE: OUR FUTURE January 2015 Contents rural

friendly

employment opportunities

better transport

1. Community vision 3 safe 2. About Campaspe: Our Future 4 3. Our history 6 sustainable 4. Our municipality 9 5. Who we are… and who we will become 11 good medical 6. Challenges we need to meet 13 facilities environmentally progressive 7. What the community told us 23 healthy

8. Principles 27 connected to technology 9. Strategies and actions 29 10. How we will know we are on track 33 11. Working together 34

bike paths art and culture prosperous good educational opportunities

thriving activities for children industries 2 Campaspe: OUR FUTURE 1. Community vision rural

friendly

employment opportunities

better transport

safe

Our community has described sustainable its vision for the future… good medical facilities environmentally progressive We want to healthy be strong, connected to technology supportive, vibrant and bike paths art and sustainable. culture prosperous good educational opportunities

thriving activities for children industries 3 Social 2 About Campaspe: Our Future inclusion is important because Campaspe: Our Future is a long-term strategic plan for the future which has been developed in direct response to community input. For Council, the plan will inform the development and implementation of all strategic and operational plans to ensure all Council activities are delivering on the community’s vision for the future. The plan sets out a shared vision for our This feedback was primarily gathered > Stakeholder meetings – to capture future and the principles through which during the first half of 2014 through feedback on long-term trends that future can be delivered. It is a plan the following means: and the key priorities for the future that identifies how the community, > Online survey – available via Council’s > Schools competitions – two isolation Council, stakeholder groups and other website throughout June, collecting competitions to encourage primary results in partners can work together to overcome feedback from the community, and secondary school students to health issues challenges, profit from opportunities including secondary school students, participate in the engagement and build resilience to ensure a strong about what the community values process and provide feedback on and social and sustainable future. about the municipality and where they young people’s vision for their issues Campaspe: Our Future has been live, their aspirations and the things community and its future developed by independent community that are of most concern to them > Campaspe Conversation Day – engagement specialist, Straight about the future undertaken in March 2014, in , Talk, based on extensive feedback > Community workshops – conducted , Rochester, Rushworth received from community members, in Echuca, Rochester and Kyabram and Lockington, the day provided an organisational stakeholders, community to collect feedback about what the opportunity to have a conversation with groups and Council. priorities for the future should be Council about issues of concern, ideas > Outreach (pop-up) activities – short, and feedback to help improve and drive fun activities were undertaken in Campaspe in the right direction. Stanhope, Rochester, Kyabram, Lockington and Echuca to capture feedback on values, aspirations and the vision for the future

4 Campaspe: OUR FUTURE Councillor Campaspe Community Pop up workshop Conversation Day workshops activities

Community Stakeholder workshop vision and principles Secondary school survey

Campaspe: Our Future This collective feedback reflected the community’s vision for its future and its values and aspirations. This feedback formed the basis for Executive the development of principles to guide how the future vision should workshop be delivered. Information obtained from stakeholder meetings, and from Councillors and senior Council staff, has informed the high-level Primary school art implementation strategies. competition

Department managers workshop

Indigenous Online consultation survey 5 3 Our history

The history of the is uniquely its own, it reflects the broader history of and the social, economic and political influences on its development. The history of the occupation of the area of land Today, the Shire of Campaspe has a higher In 1836 the Surveyor General known as the Shire of Campaspe is a long one. percentage of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Major Thomas Mitchell named the Campaspe Indigenous Australians have been connected residents compared to as a whole and River, after which the Shire takes its name, and with this area for thousands of years. The Dja Dja this, together with the names of many of the from the 1840s pastoralists started to settle in Wurrung, and Taungurung people are towns in the municipality, reflect its Aboriginal the area. The land was used predominately for today recognised as representing the traditional cultural heritage. These town names include: sheep grazing, dairy farming and timber. The owners who lived in the area along the Murray, > Ballendella, meaning ‘resting place’ township of Echuca, originally named Hopwood’s Campaspe and Goulburn Rivers prior to the Ferry after Henry Hopwood, who built the Bridge > Bamawn, meaning ‘windy’ arrival of the first Europeans in the early to Hotel, was established in 1853. mid-nineteenth century. > Carag Carag, derived from ‘carrak’ meaning ‘magpie’ The Victorian Gold Rushes resulted in increased The Yorta Yorta people are recognised as the movement around the area and population > , meaning ‘meeting of the red traditional custodian of the land around the and black soils’ growth in nearby towns such as Rushworth central Murray-Goulburn region. The name and Rochester. The township of Rushworth was Yorta Yorta comes from the traditional language > Corop, after the cry of birds – ‘kor-rop’ established in 1853, as it was a stopping place spoken by Aboriginal clans across the region. > Echuca, meaning ‘meeting of the waters’ between the and Beechworth goldfields, Within one generation of European settlement > , meaning ‘sandy ground’ and Rochester in 1855. The township of Kyabram there was an 85% reduction in the size of the > Kyabram, derived from ‘kiambram’ meaning was established in the late 1870s followed by the Yorta Yorta population and in 1874 the Aboriginal ‘thick forest’ townships of Lockington and Gunbower in the population was moved to Maloga Mission late 1800s. >  , meaning ‘plain in the forest’ on the New South Wales side of the Murray River. However, from as early as 1860 and to > Timmering, derived from ‘tinara’ meaning the present, the Yorta Yorta people have been ‘kangaroo’ seeking land and reparations. > , derived from ‘Dhungala’, the name given to the local section of the > Wyuna, meaning ‘clear water’.

6 Campaspe: OUR FUTURE Wouldn’t it be great if in 20 years…

The extension of the railway line to Today the municipality reflects its Kyabram and Echuca in the later half Indigenous and non-Indigenous heritage of the 1800s prompted increased and culture, with a rich tapestry of population growth in both towns. architecture, written and oral history Similarly, the extension of the railway and dreaming. The future of Campaspe line to Rochester shifted the centre of needs to be built on these strong town away from the eastern side of the foundations and the values they lots of people . However, the expansion represent of community and family. that I know of the railway lines across the state are still here and improvements in the road network caused the decline of paddleboats as a mode of commercial transport. This had a detrimental effect on Echuca’s economy as it had, until then, been Australia’s largest inland port and heavily reliant on the paddleboat industry. Despite economic down-turns, the population of the municipality increased gradually after World War Two as a result of the construction of two water storages that provided irrigated water for farming in the area. The introduction of manufacturing also contributed to the growing population in the area. Gradually, since the arrival of post- WWII European migrants, who were predominantly Italian, the region has attracted more and more people from diverse backgrounds.

7 Murray River

Gunbower Murray River Murray Highway

Echuca Wyuna

Lockington Tongala

Nanneella Kyabram Rochester Girgarre Midland Highway Greens Lake Corop Stanhope

Lake Cooper

Waranga Basin

Colbinabbin Rushworth

Midland Highway Northern Highway

Campaspe River 8 Campaspe: OUR FUTURE Murray River

Gunbower Investment

Murray River 4 Our municipality Kow Swamp and Murray Highway economic Torrumbarry growth The Shire of Campaspe was created in 1994 and is located in , 180 kilometres directly north of . The municipality encompasses approximately 4,500 square kilometres and is a Echuca mostly rural area through which the Campaspe, Murray and Goulburn Rivers run. Wyuna Although our regional location is responsible for many of the things we Goulburn River value about living in the area, like small, friendly communities, it also creates limitations. Transport costs and connectivity in particular, have limited the ability of the municipality to attract new business to help strengthen the Lockington Tongala is essential economy and provide diverse job opportunities, which in turn impacts the to provide viability of smaller communities. a viable, Nanneella Kyabram vibrant, progressive Rochester community Girgarre Midland Highway Greens Lake Corop Stanhope

Lake Cooper

Waranga Basin

Colbinabbin Rushworth

Midland Highway Northern Highway

Campaspe River Toolleen 9 10 Campaspe: OUR FUTURE 5 Who we are… and who we will become

The people who make up the Shire of Campaspe reflect its history and development. While relatively homogeneous compared to other regions in Victoria, there is diversity in the people who live in the townships and communities across the municipality. This diversity contributes to the identity and What’s one sense of community encountered in the Shire of Campaspe. thing that needs to We are growing We have a large Indigenous We work in a variety change? In 2013, the population was just 36,919 population of industries and is expected to grow to almost 2.3% of residents are Indigenous, Approximately 40% of Campaspe’s 43,000 by 2036. compared to only 0.7% in Victoria as employed residents work in We are becoming older a whole and 1.5% in regional Victoria. manufacturing, agriculture (including In some towns we have an even higher forestry and fishing) or health care and younger percentage of Indigenous residents. (including social assistance). Many Compared to regional Victoria we have others work in tourism related a higher population of both younger We have low education levels industries, such as food services, people (school age residents) and As a population we have lower levels accommodation and retail trade. more money older people (retirees, seniors and the of education than the rest of regional for health, elderly). This trend is expected to grow, Victoria and only 47.2% of residents hold for hospitals, leaving us with a ‘population donut’ a qualification of some sort (it’s 51.6% for older with less and less working age residents for regional Victoria). people in the municipality. We have low income levels We are relatively homogenous In 2011 our median weekly income Almost 90% of residents have was only $886, compared to $945 Australian, English, Irish or Scottish for regional Victoria (and $1,242 for heritage and 93.3% only speak English. Australia as a whole), although median However, non-European migration to income levels vary significantly across the area is an emerging trend. the municipality.

11 12 Campaspe: OUR FUTURE What one big 6 Challenges we need to meet idea could transform the future for our The community in the Shire of Campaspe currently benefits from a strong and diverse economy, community? high employment levels, good health care and education, a healthy natural environment and a friendly, supportive community spirit. However, like other communities across the country, our community is facing a number of challenges that have the potential to impact on its future. How the community and Council meet these challenges and the opportunities they create will determine the sort of future the community in the Shire of Campaspe will enjoy.

Key challenges for the future include: Changing employment What this means for the community: more > Changing employment opportunities opportunities > Fewer jobs that match the current entertainment skills of the population leading to the > Increasingly older population Traditionally the municipality has enjoyed concerts, opportunity to upskill and/or retrain > Drug and alcohol abuse an economy based on agriculture, fetês/fairs, > Increased financial pressures for > Education and training manufacturing and tourism, and strong residents who are retraining or singing > Technology changes levels of employment. Changes to the performances job market present challenges and are unemployed > Water access opportunities. > Changing job opportunities in > Energy availability and carbon cost traditional employment fields such This is because: > Community facilities renewal as farming and manufacturing, and > Australia’s manufacturing industry > Changing operational environment a greater variety of jobs within the has been declining over the last job market. > Changing community expectations. twenty years due to competition in the international market as a result of the high What this means for industry: Australian dollar and high labour costs > Need to identify and attract workers > Technological advancements have with the right skill sets for current reduced the size of the manufacturing and future requirements industry’s labour force and changed > Increasing trend for overseas workers the type of skills necessary to work to fill positions within the agricultural in the industry industry > Farming trend is for larger scale > Possible ‘knock-on’ effect of changing operations with automation, which employment market on industries requires workers with different skills such as retail trade and hospitality. > New employers, such as large scale retailers, are moving into the area. 13 What this means for Council: Increasingly older population What this means for Council: > Changing population, including increased As Campaspe’s population increases, so too does > Increased and changing demand overseas migration, impacting on community the number and percentage of older residents for facilities, services, programs and expectations of Council and this trend will continue into the future. recreational opportunities > Increased need to attract non-traditional > Decreasing demographic diversity This is because: industries to the municipality to promote > Need to provide accessible services > People are living longer than they ever have before economic growth and new employment in smaller communities > Greater number of retired people are moving opportunities, and to promote the municipality > Less capacity to pay for services. to professional and skilled workers to the area > Increased advocacy and focus on economic > Younger people are leaving the area, often Drug and alcohol abuse, development to support long term economic never to return. particularly amongst young viability and diversification of the local economy What this means for the community: people > Potential negative economic impact of > More people with disabilities, particularly unemployment on Council’s rate base. A rise in drug use, especially anti- mobility impairment social drugs such as ‘ice’ and other > Less people and a lower percentage of the methamphetamines, and higher levels population that is employed full time or at all of alcohol abuse are concerning many > Declining populations in small towns residents, particularly young people. > Capacity to access and pay for services This is because: > Increased pressure on health services > Drug dealers are deliberately targeting including hospitals, doctors and ambulances regional areas > Increased reliance on volunteers and volunteer > There is an increasing problem across organisations to meet community needs. the whole Australian community What this means for industry: > Methamphetamines are highly > Changes in housing needs so that older people addictive and their use can often result can ‘age in place’ but still be close to family in violent, anti-social behaviour and and services have long-term mental health impacts. > Changing service needs and demands > There are a lack of facilities and events to entertain young people > Ageing workforce and increased difficulty in recruiting and retaining younger staff locally > Alcohol is widely promoted and easily available > Increase in the need for medical services.

14 Campaspe: OUR FUTURE We need

What this means for the community: > Increased need to support community What this means for the community: > Increased pressure on health and evidence-based initiatives that > As education is closely correlated to related services including hospitals, educate and empower young people income, low income levels are likely ambulances, doctors and psychologists in making healthy choices concerning to persist drugs and alcohol. > Increased pressure on law enforcement > Low education attainment and low higher and support services including police, Education and training income increases the risk of certain courts, correctional centres and health conditions including obesity educational Campaspe’s data shows low levels community legal centres > Loss of young people to education development of education across the population in the Shire to > Less young people engaged in formal and consequently lower incomes. institutions whom may never return work or study which will negatively to the district. give people impact their employment opportunities This is because: What this means for industry and the the skills to and/or income > Employment opportunities in farming sector: reach their manufacturing and agriculture have > Potential increase in anti-social and > Companies that require highly skilled potential violent behaviour and consequently historically not required formal qualifications workers may look unfavourably on to be increased fear about safety within Campaspe which limits the diversity > The pressure to earn an income at an engaged in the community. of industries in the municipality earlier age is greater in low income employment What this means for industry: families which can limit educational > Businesses have difficulty recruiting > Less young people with sufficient attainment skilled staff locally skills and/or educational levels to > Young people who leave Campaspe to > Local staff with the appropriate fill local employment opportunities. study do not return to the community skills to oversee high-tech farming What this means for Council: until they are ready to start a family, equipment and processes are not > Impact upon existing services and if at all. available. changing service needs of the What this means for Council: community > Difficulty in recruiting skilled staff > Increased need to partner and locally advocate with other organisations > Affordability of services provided to identify solutions to community to the community challenges > Increased need to partner and > Need to review design and layout advocate with other organisations of Council buildings and the public to identify solutions to community environment, to improve passive challenges. surveillance and public safety 15 Technology changes > The municipality is not fully serviced and What this means for Council: different parts of the community have Although the NBN and other forms of internet > Council is more restricted in its provision different methods of accessibility. access provide great opportunities to regional of online services knowing the existing areas, the municipality lags behind regional What this means for the community: limitations of internet service Victoria in terms of access. > Communication is more difficult meaning > Increased need for advocacy to support investment for advanced rollout of NBN This is because: communities are socially isolated and other services across the municipality > The cost of broadband internet makes it > Other areas benefit from the advantages > Reduced efficiency given reduced internet unaffordable for many residents of the NBN, at our community’s expense > Need to adapt to evolving technology as speeds and community availability of > Distance reduces the speed and quality of high speed broadband an ADSL internet connection and therefore it becomes available > Increased advocacy and focus on economic rural areas are difficult to service effectively > Less able to take advantage of modern development to support economic > Some areas of the municipality only have service delivery options, such as online health and education services. and business investment generating access to dial-up internet connections employment by new and existing > Campaspe’s comparatively small dispersed What this means for industry and the farming businesses within the municipality. population means there is no commercial sector: incentive for the provision of high speed services > Local businesses are less efficient and less Water Access competitive due to a lack of high-speed access Water for agricultural purposes has > Campaspe is less attractive to new and become less available and water emerging businesses that are reliant upon affordability is a continuing challenge. high speed internet access This is because: > Reduced ability to implement automated > The Murray Darling Basin Plan limits farming equipment that relies on remote the amount of water available for monitoring and operation irrigation so that it can be allocated > Unable to take advantage of modern service for environmental purposes delivery options, such as video conferencing, > Climate in southern Australia is online education, instant online transactions, predicted to become dryer product sales and large data transfer. > Retail price setting and taking, and changes to the market environment affect the availability and affordability of water.

16 Campaspe: OUR FUTURE We need

What this means for the community: > Changing demographics resulting in > ‘Country living’ may be perceived as > Changing employment opportunities a reduction in youth and the working being less environmentally sustainable in the agricultural industry, as farming population and increased older people given increasing fuel cost and limited practices adapt and respond to water > Need to attract new manufacturing public transport. availability and processing industries What this means for industry and the > Need to upskill and retrain to keep > Increased advocacy and focus on solar power farming sector: generation pace with emerging farming methods. economic development to support > Production costs will increase which long term economic viability and to reduce What this means for the farming sector: will make the manufacturing industry diversification of the local economy. in particular less competitive when energy and > Opportunity to innovate and increase cost. Water agricultural efficiency through Energy availability and compared to off shore production costs harvesting technology carbon cost > Increased cost of water that could > Increasing energy costs will increase (individuals Predicted changes in the cost, availability the cost of automation and other to help threaten the viability of some and reliability of energy supplies have agricultural businesses efficiencies, reducing the viability overcome the potential to significantly impact on of farming > Changes to crops being produced drought) and existing industries and our standard and > Increased investment and reliance and to agricultural production levels, cost of living. to green the increasing production in some sectors on renewable energy sources, such environment but reducing it in others This is because: as solar will be required. > Increased investment in agricultural > Demand for energy is increasing What this means for Council: automation both on and off farm > Greenhouse gas reduction targets > It may become harder to attract new > Transitional farming as producers and the removal of current fossil fuel industries to the municipality, leading adapt practices to suit farming with subsidies are expected to further to reduced diversity in the economy less water increase the price of energy and less opportunities to attract skilled workers > Potential increase in soil erosion, > The price of carbon is expected pests and weeds due to the absence to increase > Increased input costs (such as fuel) of irrigation and more vacated > Energy infrastructure is ageing. to provide services across the Shire agricultural land. What this means for the community: > Need to put measures in place which support the uptake of renewal energy What this means for Council: > The cost of living will increase by the community and business, and > Different infrastructure needs for > Increased investment and reliance which reduces its own energy usage. farming sector as crop volumes on renewable energy sources, increase and crop types change such as solar will be required 17 18 Campaspe: OUR FUTURE Infrastructure for technology and transport Community facilities renewal > Many of our assets are hard to protect What this means for Council: – from the weather, from vandalism As the owners of community assets, > We need our assets and infrastructure and ageing including roads, bridges, and public to meet community needs, whilst facilities, such as libraries, swimming > Our smaller townships have declining balancing increasing service pools etc., Council must effectively populations, and therefore rate base, expectations and this will mean manage and maintain these. to support infrastructure targeting funding carefully > New community assets are expensive > We need to carefully plan for our This is because: to establish, maintain and renew. future financially so that we have > Council only has a limited source of adequate funds to maintain and renew What this means for everyone: encourages income – the rates it collects from its appropriate assets and infrastructure citizens, grants from state and federal > Rates from larger communities, like more > Community facilities will need to have governments, and fees for services Echuca, will continue to ‘pay’ for professional a number of functions so they are fully infrastructure in other parts of the people to live > Grants for the construction of new utilised to justify their expense infrastructure do not cover the cost to municipality and work in > Increased need to rationalise maintain or renew the infrastructure > May need to travel to access facilities community facilities and their a rural town as the need to rationalise assets > Our population is growing and we need maintenance to provide additional and updated increases and they are spread across > Increased need for collaborative services to look after people properly the municipality procurement and delivery to reduce (further reducing the funds available > Local assets may be updated less costs for infrastructure) frequently or decommissioned > Rationalise the road network to reflect > Community expectations around the > Increased user fees and facilities current community requirements, standard of facilities is increasing available reducing the number of roads being > State and federal governments > Reduction in the scale of the road maintained and maintaining others to historically funded the construction network and/or the standard of road a higher standard of many community assets, including being provided to meet community > We need to plan ahead to ensure roads and recreation facilities need community and public transport > Reduced community facilities available is available to allow access to to support local workforces community facilities across the > Facilities that meet current and future municipality and in other regional demands, not historical needs centres. > Roads will not be maintained as frequently or to the same standards.

19 Changing operational environment What this means for industry and the farming sector: Financial pressure to meet increasing > There may be an increase in rates responsibilities and funding that does not align or a shift to a ‘user-pays’ model for with Council’s core responsibilities or statutory Council services. obligations due to cost-shifting. What this means for Council: This is because: > There is increased financial pressure > Council’s responsibilities, the functions it on service delivery, particularly home undertakes and its core services are established and community care, emergency by legislation and supporting regulation, and management, recreation services through state and federal government policies, (aquatic facilities) and public libraries are increasing > Council will need to reduce services, > There is a well-established Australia-wide trend increase fees and charges to reflect of both the state and federal governments the true cost of service delivery and/or transferring their responsibilities to local increase rates to make up the shortfall government, without transferring sufficient funding or grants to cover the cost of that > The community is less able to afford service delivery services > Decreasing federal government grants are not > Council will need to rationalise keeping pace with the actual cost of service community assets delivery and the recently announced cap to the > Services will need to be rationalised growth of local government grants will impact and provided to meet only identified into the future. community needs What this means for the community: > Increased legislation and compliance requirements will drive increased costs > There may be a reduction in services and facilities Council provides > Increased collaborative agreements with Council and service providers > There may be an increase in rates or a shift to reduce cost to a ‘user-pays’ model for Council services and community facilities. > Need to investigate alternative funding sources such as through entrepreneurial activities.

20 Campaspe: OUR FUTURE Changing community expectations Constructive relationships with the community, Building community resilience so that communities and the not-for-profit sector, service delivery can work together, respond to and recover from Local government has experienced significant partners and business provide the space disasters, challenges and tragedies, and join in change over the last thirty years however for difficult discussions to take place. Given celebrating successes can be one of the most expectations of the community about what the future challenges facing Council and the intangible and important contributions that local Council should provide are not necessarily community the need for these conversations, government can make. Community resilience grows framed within a good understanding of what particularly around the prioritisation of services, from doing, and Council can assist communities to Council is able to provide. will also increase. develop their resilience by fostering conversations This is because: and responsive planning within the community. > Council’s role in delivering services has expanded more than its resources > Community expectations are high based on the view that prior to the creation of the Shire of Campaspe in 1994, smaller local councils provided more services or higher standards of service > Changes in the community demographic has resulted in an increased need for some services > There is an increasing lack of trust in government in general across the country. What this means for everyone: > The community’s expectations of Council may not have caught up with its changing circumstances > There is some community resentment towards Council as a result of unmet expectations > Council and the community working together to ensure services are reflective of the current environment and service needs > Participation in opportunities to engage with Council and contribute to its decision making.

21 22 Campaspe: OUR FUTURE What’s one 7 What the community told us thing that needs to change? More than 500 members of the community participated in engagement activities, sharing their vision, values and aspirations for the future, and identifying the factors they think are ‘just right’ now and those that need changing. We heard from all different types of people from across the municipality – older people, young families, Indigenous people, retirees and those heading towards retirement, young people, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Thanks to the support of secondary Economy – A diverse economy school principals and staff, 75 secondary NOW… that provides job opportunities, the school students participated in the What the community values environment in which to start and run more money for education, online survey, giving us great feedback most about living in the Shire a business, and an affordable lifestyle from young people. As the upcoming was also important. primary and of Campaspe generation of community members Young people also value friendly secondary – The who will help shape the future of the Friendly communities communities, the family-friendly school overwhelming response from community in the Shire of Campaspe environment and the healthy lifestyle the community was that friendly their feedback will be highlighted in Campaspe, in addition to the quality communities and the sense of belonging throughout this section of Campaspe: of the schools and community facilities. Our Future, whenever it reflects a was what people value most about living different view to other participants. in Campaspe. Supporting each other in What is ‘just right’ now times of trouble and having a community In addition to the things the community spirit were also very highly valued. values most about living in Campaspe, Family-friendly environment – A great the things said to be working particularly place to bring up kids, with good quality well now are: schools and community facilities, such > Standard and availability of community as pools and libraries, were also reasons services people love living in Campaspe. > Availability and standard of sporting Healthy lifestyles – Campaspe was facilities also valued as a place where there was > Community facilities such as libraries the right environment to live a healthy and swimming pools lifestyle, a place where there was peace > Size of towns and smaller and quiet but which was also accessible communities. to large regional centres, such as Bendigo and , as well as Melbourne. 23 ‘Quality of life’ in Campaspe INTO THE FUTURE… More than 60% of survey participants, and 68% of young participants, rated the quality of life in Future vision Campaspe as ‘fantastic’ or ‘pretty good’ and a The community were asked to articulate their vision for the future community number of participants in the outreach activities they want to live in. The results were: said they wouldn’t change a thing about the municipality and were happy with how things currently are! The factors that were most important to the quality of life in Campaspe were: safe and good medical healthy sustainable 1. Employment opportunities friendly facilities lifestyles lifestyles 2. Health care 3. Sense of safety/security 4. Low levels of drugs and alcohol abuse 5. Educational opportunities 6. Strength of the local economy 7. Low levels of violence environmentally thriving prosperous good educational progressive industries community opportunities 8. Natural environment. While very similar, the factors young people identified as most important were in a different order: 1. Employment opportunities 2. Educational opportunities good employment better connected more activities more 3. Sense of safety/security opportunities to technology for children sporting facilities 4. Low levels of violence 5. Low levels of drugs and alcohol abuse 6. Natural environment 7. Health care 8. Activities for young people. more art more bicycle better a rural and culture paths transport atmosphere 24 Campaspe: OUR FUTURE Wouldn’t it be great if in 20 years… Concerns about Campaspe’s About prosperity – people are most Priorities for the future concerned about future employment Stakeholders were asked to identify future opportunities, and the cost and what they thought the priorities for the When asked to identify the things that availability of both energy and water. were of most concern to them, when future should be, given the challenges thinking about the future, people said: For young people, the affordability of and opportunities the future will present housing is the second greatest concern to the community. Community workshop About people – future levels of drugs after employment opportunities, while participants were later asked to use and alcohol abuse and levels of violence energy and water availability and cost these ideas to rank their priorities. were most concerning, for young people are their third and fourth greatest Collectively, the results indicated the it is a happy in particular. concerns, respectively. top six priorities for the future were: place Over 98% of young people who What needs to change 1. Workforce development, education undertook the online survey said when and employment opportunities thinking about the future they were The overwhelming response from the 2. Social inclusion, where everyone concerned about the level of drug and community, when asked what needs to feels welcome change about living in Campaspe now alcohol abuse and levels of violence. 3. Investment and economic growth to help create the future community Almost 64% of young people were highly 4. Infrastructure for technology and concerned about drug and alcohol abuse people wanted to live in, was the level of drug and alcohol abuse. transport, such as roads, IT, utilities, and over 58% about levels of violence. rail etc About places – the maintenance and For young people in particular, this 5. Environmental resources such as improvement of public infrastructure was a significant concern. They also the availability, cost and sustainability and the natural environment were the identified the level of violence as of water and energy things of most concern. something that needs to change. 6. Business friendly environment that For young people, the availability and Other things the community identified attracts wealth to Campaspe. affordability of land for farming was as needing to change were: These priorities reflect the feedback also a concern, as was the availability > Employment opportunities received from outreach activities and and standard of sporting facilities. > Sense of safety/security the online survey, which also identified > Activities for young people safety and security, and the natural environment as priorities. > Strength of the local economy > Transport connectivity.

25 26 Campaspe: OUR FUTURE 8 Principles

To successfully deliver the community’s vision for its future, five key principles have been developed. These principles articulate what needs to be done to protect the things the community values and how the community’s vision could be achieved. HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT COMMUNITY FACILITIES ACCOUNTABILITY Protection of our natural environment and Establish and maintain community facilities that Model responsible Council decision-making, delivery of programs and services to support are appropriate to the needs of communities to: underpinned by strategic planning and community a connected and healthy community to: > Ensure the longevity of community assets input to: > Foster our community spirit > Support tourism > Ensure community money is spent where > Ensure the long-term availability of natural > Attract business to the area it is most needed resources > Provide connectivity to other centres > Provide the community with the opportunity to give feedback on decisions that affect them > Encourage environmental tourism > Be financially responsible. > Provide a healthy environment, particularly > Meet the changing needs of the community for young people BUSINESS GROWTH > Provide appropriate support to the community > Assist community members to make Foster a business-friendly environment that and those most in need. healthy lifestyle choices. encourages business growth and innovation to These five principles will be used by Council support local jobs and a diverse economy to: to inform its strategic decision-making and LAND USE > Protect the viability of communities and the Shire whenever it develops or reviews strategic and Sustainable use of land, which encourages > Develop a skilled and professional local work operational plans. population growth whilst ensuring the viability force of farming and industry, and development which consolidates and respects the historical built > Work with the transport and logistics sectors to environment to: ensure strategic planning and state and regional initiatives support local freight and transport > Maintain the essence of our towns and smaller needs, and that investment is targeted to communities maximise productivity > Meet changing housing needs, including > Provide a range of local skilled job opportunities population growth and the ageing population so young people continue their education and > Protect valuable farming land and ensure stay in their communities its affordability > Attract skilled and professional workers > Encourage industry to the area > Support cultural tourism. > Ensure economic resilience. 27 28 Campaspe: OUR FUTURE Environmental 9 Strategies and actions resources are HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT – Protection of our natural environment and delivery of programs and services to support a connected and healthy community What Council can do such as composting workshops and participate in available educational water harvesting, and the use of opportunities on environmental > Provide access to and support for renewable energy sustainability programs that reduce social isolation such as arts and recreation > Support business uptake of carbon- > Introduce more sustainable practices neutral operations through an annual at home or work, such as recycling, > Increase community awareness of ‘green business’ award the use of renewable energy and family violence prevalence, impacts essential to harvested water and effective ways to respond as a > Work with the community and prosperity bystander businesses to reduce domestic and > Support businesses that practise and liveability commercial waste environmental sustainability > Promote alcohol and drug free events with a particular focus on young people > Where possible use harvested water > Join and participate in land care groups to maintain parks and sports grounds, or other environmental community > Support evidence based community and other Council facilities groups to better the environment initiatives that educate and empower young people to make healthy choices > Support the increase in active > Volunteer and support programs concerning drugs and alcohol transport, such as cycling and walking, aimed at reducing social isolation. through the provision of appropriate > Support local community events and Business: infrastructure, including secure bike encourage the use of Council-owned parking in town centres > Introduce sustainable practices, facilities such as halls and sports such as the effective management > Partner with others, such as grounds by community groups of and reduction in waste and water Catchment Management Authorities, > Provide community transport to harvesting to ensure a coordinated and regional ensure isolated community members approach to water management. > Use renewable energy and up-take have access to services and programs energy saving technology. > Demonstrate environmental best What others can do Developers: practice in carbon-neutral operations, Community: through renewable energy options and > Build clean, green buildings and > Participate in community events sustainable activities, such as recycling facilities that maximise the use and support community groups of environmentally sustainable > Provide information and educational > Obtain information on how to be more technology. opportunities to the community on environmentally sustainable from sustainable environmental practices, Council and other organisations, and

29 LAND USE – Sustainable use of land, which encourages population growth COMMUNITY FACILITIES – whilst ensuring the viability of farming and industry, and development which Community facilities that are consolidates and respects the historical built environment appropriate to the needs of What Council can do > Ensure new land uses are located to maximise communities access to appropriate infrastructure, such > Work with developers to ensure housing What Council can do as public transport, and advocate/plan for availability meets the changing needs of the additional public transport as necessary > When replacing existing community community, such as ageing residents facilities, consider how new infrastructure > Advocate for new residential developments to > Ensure appropriate planning laws are in place can be multi-purpose or multi-use include affordable housing for low-income people to protect historic buildings and places and accessible housing for older residents > Make strategic decisions about the future > Encourage commercial development that needs of the community and rationalise > Assist older residents to age in place by allowing supports visual amenity resources when necessary the ready modification of existing properties, for > Work with the community to identify areas example for granny flats or sub-divisions > Consider the needs of older residents and where higher density housing would be non-car users when planning footpath and > Identify areas within the municipality to be used appropriate road upgrades to aid accessibility and the for agriculture > Facilitate developers and the community use of non-motorised transport, such as > Support development of strategies to provide working together to establish the appropriate walking and cycling alternative transport options for people who amenity of new developments > When rationalising community infrastructure are isolated and/or older, such as carpooling. > Advocate for the re-use and retrofitting of identify how public transport can support existing buildings, where appropriate, for What others can do community members accessing available housing and other uses facilities across the municipality and in other Developers: regional centres > Develop and implement strategic plans for > Work with Council to ensure housing availability > Advocate with appropriate state and federal each town and township, in partnership with meets the changing needs of the community, government agencies, such as VicRoads, the community such as ageing residents VicTrack, Department of Transport Planning > Involve the community in establishing the and Local Infrastructure, Department of appropriate visual amenity of new developments Education and Early Childhood Development > Look for opportunities to re-use and retro-fit and the Department of Health, to ensure existing buildings for housing and other uses future infrastructure meets the needs of the > Respect historic building and the existing visual growing population and its changing nature amenity. > Advocate for affordable and efficient public transport Community: > Participate in opportunities to provide feedback > Develop asset management plans that on developments ensure community facilities are appropriate for the size and demographic of communities > Volunteer for community groups who work to maintain and protect historic buildings and places > Maintain effective data management systems to efficiently manage and > Recognise that as the community changes maintain community facilities. 30 Campaspe: OUR FUTURE needs and townscapes also need to change. What others can do > Support business chambers to provide > Regularly provide information to the community information and promote local business networks about the real cost of service delivery and Community: > Advocate with state government to ensure infrastructure, and the utilisation of rates across > Lobby relevant agencies to ensure the the availability and accessibility of all levels the municipality, so that community members can community’s views on future infrastructure of education. provide informed feedback on Council’s intentions in the municipality are heard > Partner with others to ensure coordination of > Recognise that as the community changes What others can do existing or new services to meet the needs of community facilities also need to change Community: residents with multiple or complex needs, such > Participate in helping Council to prioritise > Embrace life-long learning opportunities as those with disabilities, older Aboriginal or infrastructure needs and plans. and skill development Torres Strait Islanders Business: > Support local businesses and enterprises. > Undertake regional strategic planning and projects with regional partners, including > Lobby relevant agencies to ensure business Business: needs are considered when planning future neighbouring councils and state governments. > Work with Council on mutually beneficial infrastructure in the municipality initiatives What others can do > Work with Council to ensure it understands > Advocate to other levels of government for Community: the infrastructure needs of business. support > Provide constructive feedback to Council and BUSINESS GROWTH – Business-friendly > Support other local businesses and enterprises participate in feedback gathering opportunities environment that encourages business > Provide genuine job opportunities to young > Understand the fiscal restraints on Council and growth and innovation to support local people, especially young Indigenous people its need to prioritise community needs. jobs and a diverse economy > Participate in business networks and forums. Business: What Council can do ACCOUNTABILITY – Responsible Council > Work with Council on mutually beneficial initiatives decision-making, underpinned by > Participate in business networks and forums, and > Work with educational institutions, community opportunities to provide feedback to Council. based organisations and other levels of strategic planning and community input government to encourage life-long learning Council’s delivery of the strategies and actions and a well-educated and skilled community What Council can do supporting Campaspe: Our Future will be > Work with the transport and logistics sectors to > Ensure the long-term intentions and strategic undertaken within the context of its legislative ensure strategic planning and state and regional plans of other levels of government are responsibilities. Additionally, the strategic and initiatives support local freight and transport considered when making decisions, such as the operational plans Council must develop will needs, and that investment is targeted to Loddon North Regional Growth Plan; be informed by Campaspe: Our Future and its maximise productivity Plan Melbourne; the Freight State; and the principles, ensuring that all Council decision- Murray Basin Rail Project amongst others making and service provision will be aligned to > Reduce red tape to assist businesses efficiency > Consult with the community on decisions that our community’s vision for the future. > Advocate to other levels of governments affect them for infrastructure that supports business establishment and development > Maintain effective data management systems so that relevant and accurate information is available to support good decision making 31 32 Campaspe: OUR FUTURE 10 How we will know we are on track

Working towards the community vision is a long term enterprise and community changes will indicate if progress towards the vision is being achieved. A business To measure the progress we make Long term measures will include: Democratic and engaged communities friendly towards delivering the vision in Healthy, safe and inclusive communities > Opportunities to have a say on environment Campaspe: Our Future Council will important local issues. use a range of indicators*, including > Satisfaction with life is important those measuring community wellbeing. > Feeling part of the community In addition to community wellbeing because Community wellbeing indicators are > Feeling of safety. measures, progress will also be tracked collated independently of Council by by considering trends in: the University of Melbourne, from Dynamic resilient local economies > Use of water and renewable energy a number of sources, and measure > Secondary school retention rates > Energy efficiency changes in five key topic areas. > Workforce skills > Waste to landfill The results of these measures over > Rate of employment. > Planning application processing the long term will indicate how timeframes the community has changed. Sustainable built and natural job creation environments > Usage levels of community assets and > Housing affordability > Accessibility to public and commercial productivity > Household waste recycling. premises create Culturally rich and vibrant communities > Public transport usage. wealth > Opportunities for and participation *Success will be dependent on multiple and pride in arts and cultural activities. contributions, not just Council’s, in the including the community, business, the community not-for-profit sector, other government agencies and community organisations.

33 11 Working together The future our State Government Although Campaspe: Our Future Federal Government community will be used as a guiding wants document for Council, to help shape its decision-making and the development of shorter term operational plans, it is a plan for the whole community. The plan articulates the strategies and principles Council, the community, Economy Principles delivery partners and stakeholder groups need to implement in order to Strategies create the future the community wants. It recognises that all members of the community within the Shire of Campaspe have a responsibility to work together to bring about the community-wide changes needed so that the community’s vision for its future is realised. Everyone has a responsibility to work together The successful implementation of the community vision will also be affected by decisions made by both State and Federal governments and by other Community groups external factors such as Stakeholder groups the economy.

Council

Delivery partners 34 Campaspe: OUR FUTURE The future our State Government Federal Government community wants

Economy Principles Strategies

Everyone has a responsibility to work together

Community groups Stakeholder groups

Council

Delivery partners 35 [email protected] 1300 666 535 or 03 5481 2200 www.campaspe.vic.gov.au www.facebook.com/ShireOfCampaspe National Relay Service (NRS): 133 677

PO Box 35, Echuca, Victoria Australia 3564