Council Plan and Budget
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A Message from the Mayor

On behalf of the councillors of the City of Port Phillip, I am pleased to present the Council Plan 2009-2013.

This four-year plan sets out council’s strategic directions and actions, and provides practical indicators which will help you to measure our progress.

We have spent the first seven months of our term developing the Council Plan, and its completion is a significant milestone for us.

The Council Plan is a ‘living’ document which, in partnership with the community, will be continually reviewed and improved during our four-year term.

During and since the election, we have been listening to the interests of people in the community. We held several conversations with the community in February, March, May and June, and our draft Council Plan was available online. We were delighted to receive so many comments on our strategic directions and proposed actions, and these have helped us to shape this document.

Restoring the community’s trust and confidence in the council is a key driver of the Council Plan. Implementing sound governance practices, including consulting and engaging with our community, will be fundamental to getting our decision-making right. Climate change is a major concern for the community and we are committed to taking real action in response to it.

We recognise that people having a strong sense of belonging and connection to where they live is vital to the health and wellbeing of our community. Ensuring that our city is a place where creative, active and culturally diverse life can flourish is part of this. Open space and streetscapes must be preserved and our village and neighbourhood character must be maintained while we continue to welcome visitors to the many attractions our city offers. We want to influence and shape the future design of the city to maximise liveability for all.

Council’s role will vary in delivering the Council Plan. There are great opportunities and big challenges ahead. Ultimately, the success of the Council Plan will depend on working with the community, key partners and other levels of government. This Council Plan is not the end point; it is the beginning of ongoing conversations with the community which will help us to positively shape the future of our city.

 

Cr Frank O’Connor

Mayor