Revisiting the Community Plan

The Community Plan, Maribyrnong 2040, adopted in 2018 is a key strategic planning document that has been written by the community, for the community.

Centred on what kind of future residents want for our municipality, it underpins the development of other key documents including the Council Plan which is developed every four years, and helps guide civic participation and engagement.

Informed by feedback from 500 respondents, it also includes the following Community Vision for:

As required under the Local Government Act 2020 Council will be engaging the community to review the Community Plan to ensure it remains relevant recognising challenges over the past three years, specifically around the pandemic, that may have changed community expectations for the future.

Along with the Community Plan, we'll also be reviewing the Asset and Financial plans and developing a new Council Plan during this period. These four documents determine Council activities and service delivery going forward and it is important to us that anyone who wishes to, is able to be involved.

This is particularly true for the Community Plan and associated vision, noting this is owned by our community.

Ways you can engage with us

To be truly ‘written by the community, for the community’ we are keen to see as many residents as possible involved in this first review of your Community Plan and vision, specifically.

We're starting the conversation using Hello Lamp Post, a new two-way communication tool, which uses AI to support live interactions straight from your phone.

Simply scan the QR code on the yellow signs which you will find at more than two dozen locations across the municipality, to activate the chat.

The first conversation from late April to late May, is designed to understand how residents would like to be involved in this significant piece of engagement. We'll be using your feedback to identify the tools and methods you would like us to use to support your involvement. This will inform our planning for future conversations over the coming months.

Or, while you're here, if you have time, there is a short questionnaire below.

This is the most significant opportunity to influence Council’s decision-making for the next four years and beyond. You can stay up to date with the project and ways to provide feedback by hitting the follow button at the top of the page.

Adopted in 2020, Maribyrnong 2040 is an overarching strategic document – written for the community by the community – that informs future strategic directions of Council and can also be used by the wider community to guide civic participation and engagement.

Maribyrnong 2040 is guided by five themes:

  1. Enabling active citizenship
  2. Living well
  3. Shaping our natural and built environments
  4. Working and learning
  5. Linking people and places

Community engagement to support the development of the Plan centered on what kind of future residents wanted for the municipality over the next 20 years.

More than 500 contributions also informed the vision for "a city where history and differences are embraced, forming the foundations from which vibrant, diverse, and sustainable communities thrive."

To download a copy visit: Maribyrnong 2040: Community Plan - Maribyrnong

The Asset Plan guides the efficient and effective management of community assets, such as buildings, roads, and drainage systems, through to footpaths, bike paths and parks and ovals, over a 10 year period.

It is focused on ensuring the approximately 54 thousand infrastructure assets in the municipality are managed in a way that ensures they are fit for purpose for the community – now and for future generations – while also providing best value outcomes throughout their lifecycle in terms of cost taking into account things like population growth, demographic changes, ageing infrastructure and technology advances.

The Plan focuses on four asset classes:

  • Open Space, which covers parks, public open spaces and streetscapes, along with recreational, leisure, and community facilities.
  • Drainage, which covers underground pipes and drainage pits that manage stormwater flow.
  • Transport, which covers public roads, footpaths, kerbs, carparks, and bridges.
  • Buildings, which covers assets, ranging from sporting and community facilities through to recreational facilities and public toilets.

The development of the 10-year Asset Plan is a requirement under the Local Government Act 2020 to support the implementation of the Community Plan and associated Community Vision, and Council Plan Objectives.

To download a copy visit: Asset Plan - Maribyrnong

The Council Plan guides what we do and how we do it over a four-year period.

The most recent Council Plan was adopted in June 2021 outlines our vision for creating an inclusive, flourishing, progressive city that cares for both its residents and its environment.

Priorities are:

  • Safe climate and healthy environment: Council will proactively identify opportunities to support a return to a safe climate and healthy environment and work with our community to respond to climate emergency challenges.
  • Liveable neighbourhoods: Council will partner with its community to provide and advocate for integrated built and natural environments with access to open spaces that are well maintained, engaging, accessible and respectful of the community and neighbourhoods.
  • A place for all: Council will provide well-planned neighbourhoods and a strong local economy, delivering services that are inclusive and accessible to the whole community, and that support wellbeing, healthy and safe living, connection to the community, and cultural interaction.
  • Future focussed: Council will plan and advocate for new infrastructure and safe, sustainable and effective transport networks and a smart innovative city that encourages and supports new generations to thrive.
  • Ethical leadership: Council will proactively lead our changing City using strategic foresight, innovation, transparent decision making and well-planned and effective collaboration and community engagement to support community and economic growth during the ongoing challenges of the pandemic and beyond.

The Council Plan also incorporates the Municipal Health and Wellbeing Plan, and focuses on improving the physical, social, natural, cultural and economic environments that impact community health.

It is reviewed annually to consider emerging community needs, and a new Plan developed every four years following the election of a new Council.

To download a copy visit: Council Plan - Maribyrnong

The Long Term Financial Plan (Financial Plan) is a document that considers both the current financial situation and future projections to support delivery of projects, initiatives and programs our community think are most important for our City over the next 10 years.

The Financial Plan links to the achievement of the Community Plan and the Council Plan within the Integrated Strategic Planning & Reporting framework.

This framework guides Council in identifying community needs and aspirations over the long term (Community Plan), medium term (Council Plan), and short term (Annual Budget) and then holding itself accountable (Annual Report).

Under the Local Government Act 2020, Council is required to deliver a Financial Plan that covers a 10-year period that is also reviewed in the year following a Council election.

To download a copy visit: 10-Year Financial Plan - Maribyrnong