Our Shire's Community Plan Snapshot

Our Shire has a fantastic document on their website called the Community Plan Snapshot. You can download the full pdf here or take a look below.

The Community Plan:

1) Nurturing Our Local Character and Sense of Place

The Mornington Peninsula is not one place, but many. The Shire plays a number of important roles in preserving what we value about the ‘look, feel and function’ of each locality while ‘facing the future’, addressing challenges and embracing opportunities. Our steps include:

• Maintaining a peninsula that is 70% rural;
• Developing township plans that reflect community values and the preferred future character;
• Ensuring that new developments and public places recognise and enhance local character.

2) Protecting Our Environment and Tackling Climate Change

Our highly valued natural environment is of both local and international significance. To protect and enhance these special values, the Shire leads by example and facilitates community participation and education. We recognise our vulnerability to climate change and will pro-actively work with the broader community to understand and address the impacts. Our steps include:

• Managing and protecting coastal areas for our community and future generations;
• Improving biodiversity by increasing habitat, reducing weeds and protecting wildlife;
• A commitment to leading change on climate change within our community.

3) Creating Safe, Healthy and Engaged Communities

Empowered communities are those that are safe, well informed, connected and supported. The Shire promotes health and wellbeing for all and provides accessible and valued community facilities and services. Our steps include:

• Planning, developing and maintaining community assets;
• Providing and supporting a range of community projects, events and festivals;
• Increasing access to information and learning opportunities for all ages;
• Advocating for improved housing diversity and affordability for those in need.

4) Supporting a Sustainable Peninsula Economy

A sustainable economy is essential, providing meaningful employment for all who seek it, and services that reflect the community’s needs. The Shire works collaboratively with government, business and industry sectors to build and sustain a skilled, well informed and innovative business community, which is competitive and able to adapt to change. Our steps include:

• Assisting local businesses with training, information and support;
• Fostering and encouraging agriculture and promoting the Peninsula’s rural sector;
• Maintaining the Peninsula as a place to live, work and recreate;
• Focusing on year-round activities to support the local tourism industry.

5) Being Responsive, Accountable and Forward Looking

We embrace the principles of continuous improvement and best practice to ensure that we deliver reliable, efficient and effective services to the community. We achieve this through responsible financial management, effective advocacy and engagement, and by highly valuing our people. Our steps include:

• Regularly engaging the community in diverse and innovative ways;
• Persistently and effectively advocating on issues of community importance;
• Ensuring we do everything we do, the best way it can be done;
• Managing our finances and risk in a responsible (and responsive) way.