The community only has until this Friday to share their final feedback on the Rural City of Wangaratta's draft Council Plan that has already had 2000-plus people comment on it. The plan has soaked up 3200 ideas including engagement consisting of 529 surveys; 118 community participants across three deliberative workshops; over 340 quick poll votes across eight community pop ups; 116 children’s worksheets; 10 conversation kits; 60+ targeted engagements; and 100+ council staff engaged. The top 10 priorities identified by the community through these engagement activities were: 1. The Rural City of Wangaratta, a place for everyone. 2. Community health and wellbeing. 3. Places and spaces for community connection and culture. 4. Transport, roads and infrastructure. 5. Care for nature and the environment. 6. Cost of living and affordability. 7. Community safety. 8. Family violence and harm from drug and alcohol usage. 9. Local economy and development. 10. Communication, accountability and transparency. The council plan also includes the Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan, which guides council to place health and wellbeing at the heart of everything we do. Community and local health and wellbeing partners participated in the community engagement, and they outlined five key priorities, including improving mental health and wellbeing; improving food security and healthy eating, reducing harm from alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, preventing family violence, and improving access to affordable housing and easing cost of living pressures. Have your say on the following projects via Connect Wangaratta: • Training, Placement & Transport | closes 30 September • Draft Council Plan | closes 26 September • Draft Financial Plan 2025-2035 | closes 26 September • Draft Asset Plan 2025-2025 | closes 26 September You can make an appointment with a council officer to discuss the current plans in person, or come along to one of our pop ups: • Tuesday, 9 September 11am-2pm Reid Street Kiosk • Monday, 15 September 8am-11am Wangaratta Sports and Aquatic Centre
