ADVOCACY PROGRAM 2015-2016
August 25 2015
Indigo Shire Council Advocacy Program – 2015-2016
Introduction
Indigo Shire Council is committed to enhancing the quality of life of Shire residents. We do this by providing a wide range of services, stimulating economic growth,
enhancing key industry such as agriculture and viticulture, manufacturing, retail and tourism, improving the health of our community and the environment, and
building partnerships within the community. Advocacy is just one way Council can work with and on behalf of the community on matters of concern.
Context
Indigo is a small rural shire with limited resources but a rich and enduring history. Indigo has Australia’s greatest collection of historic towns, which makes it unique.
Our community is made up of enthusiastic and motivated residents with high expectations. This plan outlines ways to influence key decision-makers about funding,
infrastructure, and services to make better decisions sooner for the benefit of the Indigo community.
Advocacy involves Council lobbying other levels of government, various agencies, regional organisations and interest groups on issues of importance to our people so
the voice of the community can be heard at other levels and in other places.
Advocacy can involve a range of methods including making effective submissions, direct lobbying of decision makers such as politicians and state and regional
departmental directors, deputations to people of influence, inviting key people to visit the Shire for firsthand experience, consultation, public media campaigns and
appropriate use of Social Media. Under the Local Government Act 1989, Council can advocate for its community but advocacy work must not be politically partisan in
nature. (The Act sets out clear references to Advocacy under the role and functions of Councils: 3D. (2) (d) advocating the interests of the local community to other
communities and governments; and 3E. (1) (a) advocating and promoting proposals which are in the best interests of the local community.)
We will conduct our Advocacy Program in three ways. We will:
1. Identify an issue, often through community consultation, or our Council Plan
2. Research the issue, gathering relevant facts and data to support our position
3. Build partnerships, plan activities to lobby relevant people, and put these in motion.
Advocacy Program 2015-2016
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ADVOCACY PROGRAM 2015-2016
We will report progress of our Advocacy Program quarterly to Council and externally to our community.
Our advocacy work is underpinned by the Council Plan 2013-2017 Reviewed June 2015 (TRIM 13/2146), the Indigo 2030 Report (TRIM 10/2611 - INTERNAL12/1667),
other Council plans and strategies and community consultation.
This Advocacy Program provides us with a guide to addressing some issues that are beyond the capacity of Council, working alone, to find solutions for. The
framework of this plan is designed to allow Council to take advantage of advocacy opportunities that arise throughout the year. These opportunities can be sudden
with little or no warning.
The plan is also the basis for prioritising projects and funding bids, especially when new funding programs are being rolled out from the State Government, and as
the Federal Election is due in late 2016. This plan comprises the current priorities.
Links
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Annual Budget 2015-16 (TRIM INTERNAL15/1185)
Capital Works 2015-2016 Program
Council’s Communications Strategy (TRIM INTERNAL14/380)
Communications Policy (TRIM INTERNAL14/381)
Social Media Policy (TRIM INTERNAL14/656)
This Advocacy Plan should be considered in the light of the above Budget, Capital Works Program, Communication Strategy and Policies and implemented with
reference to the communication and social media written procedures (TRIM 14/3117).
Advocacy Program 2015-2016
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ADVOCACY PROGRAM 2015-2016
Advocacy Projects 2015-16
Subject
Source reference
Action
We request
Rutherglen Economic
Revitalisation Project,
including Main Street,
Lake King and Wine
Bottle precinct and
Hopetoun Rd
Council Plan
2.14.3 Finalise, ensure
funding and
implement Rutherglen
Main Street
revitalisation project
2.9.3 Complete
DEPI-funded
restoration work on
Lake King
Complete
concept design
External funding
from NSRF
($900,000)
TRIM
reference for
supporting
documents
15/3519
Seek grant
funding through
National
Stronger
Regions Fund
Key People
Staff/Councillors/
Partners
Status
Timing
Mayor
CEO
Infrastructure Services
Communications
Tourism
Application lodged
for Round 2 NSRF
for $900,000
Decision
December
2015
Infrastructure Services
Development and
Design work
underway, $10,000
Dec-15
Hume Region Tracks
and Trails Strategy
Hume Regional
Growth Plan
Hume Strategy for
Sustainable
Communities 20102020
Redesign and
redevelop the
Community
Council Plan
2.11 Redesign &
Advocacy Program 2015-2016
Complete
detailed design
External funding
of $100,000 for
Page 3 of 8
IN15/4065
ADVOCACY PROGRAM 2015-2016
Advocacy Projects 2015-16
TRIM
reference for
supporting
documents
Key People
Staff/Councillors/
Partners
Subject
Source reference
Action
We request
Beechworth Chinese
Gardens.
And other elements of
Lake Sambell Master
Plan, as funding
opportunities arise.
redevelop the
Beechworth Chinese
Gardens
and cost
estimates to use
in funding
applications
redevelopment
and partrelocation of
Chinese
Gardens
Planning
in Council budget for
design work
Grant funding of
$90,000 to
complete
detailed designs
to get the trail
to “construction
ready” stage.
Infrastructure Services
Underway. $30,000
in budget for design
Council resolution
26 May 2015
Community
Rail Trail network
funding
Council Plan
2.16.2. Seek funding
to commence detailed
design and
implementation of
Beechworth to
Yackandandah Rail
Trail project, and
Wahgunyah to Lake
Moodemere Trail
Hume Region Tracks
and Trails Strategy
Advocacy Program 2015-2016
Investigate and
secure funding
for redevelopment of
the Beechworth
Chinese
Gardens
Complete
detailed design
for Beechworth
to
Yackandandah
Rail Trail
(subject to
funding)
Development &
Planning
Corporate &
Community
Services/Tourism
Murray to Mountain
Rail Trail committee of
management
Seek grant
funding for
Beechworth to
Yackandandah
Hume RDA Future
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Status
Investigation into
funding sources
Timing
Nov-15
ADVOCACY PROGRAM 2015-2016
Advocacy Projects 2015-16
Subject
Source reference
Action
We request
Rail Trail
Hume Regional
Growth Plan
Hume Strategy for
Sustainable
Communities 20102020
Develop Huon Reserve
on High Country Rail
Trail
Community
Council Plan
2.16.3 Investigate
options to upgrade
the Huon Reserve
facility on the High
Country Rail Trail
TRIM
reference for
supporting
documents
Key People
Staff/Councillors/
Partners
Status
Timing
Investment Tracks and
Trails Project
Committee
Seek funding for
Wahgunyah to
Lake
Moodemere
Trail
Investigate
funding options
as part of the
ongoing High
Country Rail
Trail
development
External grant
funds
Director Infrastructure
Tourism
$15,000 in budget
for concept and plan
design
Application to
be made to new
State
Government
grants programs
Grant funding
from RDV and
SRV programs
Director of
Development and
Planning
Director of
Infrastructure
Application to be
prepared by
Community
Development
2015-16
Council resolution
19-11-13
Barkley Park,
Rutherglen.
$520k project to
renovate and
refurbish the existing
Council Plan
4.3.3 Plan and
implement
Community Facilities
upgrades and
Advocacy Program 2015-2016
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2015
ADVOCACY PROGRAM 2015-2016
Advocacy Projects 2015-16
Subject
Source reference
Action
We request
pavilion to provide
appropriate facilities
to users and to cater
for the community’s
growing recreational
needs
development at …
Barkley Park,
Rutherglen
for 2015-16.
Implementation
funding for the top
priority determined in
the Chiltern
Placemaking &
Structure Plan.
Council Plan
1.9.1 Continue
partnerships with our
community beginning
with the Chiltern
Placemaking
reference group
Chiltern After
Dark Placemaking
launched 17
July 2015
Support - to be
determined - to
implement the
top priority
identified in the
Chiltern
Placemaking &
Structure Plan
to be delivered
by December
2015.
Rutherglen alternative
heavy vehicle route
Community,
Cr Chambers,
Council Resolution
19-11-14 (2013/681)
Council Resolution
25-2-14 (2014/104)
Lobby VicRoads
for to identify
an official
alternative
heavy vehicle
route
Funding for an
alternative
route for heavy
vehicles
TRIM
reference for
supporting
documents
Key People
Staff/Councillors/
Partners
Status
Timing
$20,000 in budget
for preliminary work
Council resolution
15-10-13
Advocacy Program 2015-2016
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Director Development
and Planning
Placemaking officer
Director Infrastructure
Services
Placemaking subcommittee
Aurecon
Report 2010
(INTERNAL
14/617)
CEO,
Mayor,
Cr Chambers
Director Infrastructure
Services
The Chiltern
community,
Council’s
Placemaking team
and consultants are
developing Chiltern
Placemaking &
Structure Plan and
funding will be
required to
implement the
identified priorities.
Ongoing.
Carried over from
2014-15 Advocacy
Plan.
2015-16
2015-16
ADVOCACY PROGRAM 2015-2016
Advocacy Projects 2015-16
TRIM
reference for
supporting
documents
Key People
Staff/Councillors/
Partners
Subject
Source reference
Action
We request
Yeddonba Aboriginal
rock paintings at Mt
Pilot
Council Plan
4.5 Promote and
protect our natural
environmental assets
Bring together
representatives
from
responsible
government
agencies and
interested
Aboriginal
parties to seek
funding to
conserve the
rock art
Full renovation
of the Chiltern
Oval including
appropriate
drainage, soil
and turf
profiles.
Funding source
identified for
restoration
work to the rock
paintings and
conservation
measures for
the future
Director Development
and Planning
Community Planning
Tourism
Issue highlighted
during meetings
with some of the
relevant Aboriginal
parties and
government
agencies. Formal
request from Indigo
Shire to meet on the
issue is required.
2015-16
Grant funding
Mayor
Sustainable
Communities staff,
Operations staff
Investigate grant
funding
opportunities
2015-16
Community
Chiltern Recreation
Reserve oval, netball
courts.
Recreation reserves
are the lifeblood of a
community’s various
recreational activities.
They need to be safe
and modern facilities
to encourage sporting
activities and the
health and fitness
Council Plan
4.3. Plan and
implement projects
and programs for all
people in Indigo Shire
to access the
information,
support & services
they need
to lead healthy,
active, safe and
connected lifestyles
Advocacy Program 2015-2016
Reconstruction
of the Chiltern
Netball Court
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Chiltern Recreation
Reserve Committee
RDV, Sport and
Recreation Victoria
Status
Seek opportunity for
advocacy at State
and Federal
Government level
Timing
ADVOCACY PROGRAM 2015-2016
Advocacy Projects 2015-16
Subject
aspects that flow from
this.
Yackandandah to
Beechworth mountain
bike trails
Source reference
Action
We request
Community
Community interest
groups including Yack
Trails Incorporated
and Yackandandah
Chamber of
Commerce
Create an MoU
between
Council and
Yack Tracks
Incorporated
Funding (to be
determined) for
detailed
assessment of
the tracks by an
independent
consultant and
inclusion of the
project on the
Hume Region
Tracks & Trails
priority list.
TRIM
reference for
supporting
documents
Key People
Staff/Councillors/
Partners
Community Planning
Tourism
Status
In discussion with
DELWP and the
interested parties.
Have lodged a
request for inclusion
into the Hume
Region Tracks &
Trails priority list.
Timing
2015-16
Contacts – see separate list (TRIM 14/3151)
The list includes all Federal and State MPs, North East CEOs, Mayors and Councillors, various public sector organisations including MAV, Heritage Victoria,
Department of Local Government and Regional Development Australia, Chambers of Commerce, Educational Institutions and Health Services.
Advocacy Program 2015-2016
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