Council takes an integrated approach to strategic planning and reporting to support strategic decision making through:
- Recognising that planning must be holistic and driven by the community
- Providing a comprehensive view of available resources and commitments
- Enabling alignment of objectives and capabilities
- Supporting an understanding of medium to long-term implications of decisions on resource allocation and Council performance
Council Plan (Mir wimbul) 2025-2029
The Council Plan (Mir wimbul) 2025-2029 was adopted by Council on June 16 2025. The plan will guide the work and strategic direction of the City for the next four years. The first-year annual actions are included in the 2025-2026 Budget to ensure we have the resources we need to deliver on the Plan.
Council Plan Overview
Our 2025-2029 Goals and Priorities (shading indicates parts of the Health and Wellbeing Plan) are:
Responsible
1.1 The City is efficient and sustainable
The City invests wisely to get the best social, environmental and economic value from our services, infrastructure and assets.
Priorities
- Drive a high performing organisation delivering value for community
- Work towards zero-carbon for City operations
- Work to make our existing infrastructure more resilient
1.2 The City connects and delivers
The City listens and responds to the community, delivering what's needed.
Priorities
- Make our customer service systems easy for everyone to use
- Improve how we listen and share information, using a range of ways to reach all of our community
- Respond openly and quickly to community enquiries
1.3 The City works in partnership
The City works with health and service providers. The City partners with community, including Traditional Owner organisations and First Nations community.
Priorities
- Implement our updated health plan partnership
- Agree and implement our work with key strategic partners and peak bodies
- Keep building our partnerships with community organisations
Healthy
2.1 We care for land, water and air
Our communities care for nature. We enjoy healthy parks, bush, waterways, farmland and neighbourhoods that are well cared for and connected.
Priorities
- Healing Country together with Traditional Owners restoring damaged land and water
- Progress the Reimagining Bendigo Creek project for a healthy and resilient creek
- Protect our natural reserves, cultural heritage and knowledge, and rural areas
2.2 We take action for a healthier climate
We reduce our environmental impact. We prepare for more extreme weather and a changing climate.
Priorities
- Build new paths to better connect and make safer bike and walking routes
- Strengthen partnerships and advocate to improve integrated transport options, including walking, cycling and public transport
- Continue and grow support for local climate action initiatives and partner projects
2.3 We are safe, happy and healthy
Our people are safe and supported, with ways to connect, be active, eat well, and stay physically and mentally well at every age.
Priorities
- Be leaders in preventing family violence
- Work with partners to respond effectively to reduce the impact of extreme weather, including working with Traditional Owner organisations
- Work with partners to make it easier to live healthy and active lives at all ages
Thriving
3.1 Our economy is strong
Our city, towns and rural areas respect their heritage. We develop talent and creativity, while seeking and keeping investment. We create an economy that delivers local opportunities.
Priorities
- Partner with local businesses, Aboriginal businesses, creators, growers, farmers and makers, big and small, to help them adapt to change and thrive
- Increase action towards a zero-waste economy in Greater Bendigo
3.2 Our city and towns are vibrant and liveable
Our city, suburbs and towns keep their identities and come together as Greater Bendigo. We live good lives in an affordable and accessible place.
Priorities
- Promote vibrant tourism, including cultural tourism and our flourishing arts, culture and food scenes
- Maintain our beautiful parks and shared spaces for all
- Help people access local, fresh, healthy, culturally appropriate, and affordable food
3.3 Our housing meets different needs
We strive for housing that is affordable, resource efficient and varied to suit different people.
Priorities
- Lead the shift to 70% of urban development being in infill areas
- Plan and build key infrastructure for residential growth through existing partnerships
- Increase advocacy to State and Federal Government for more affordable, crisis, and social housing
Welcoming
4.1 Our community celebrates together
Across our community, we have events and activities to bring our diverse community together.
Priorities
- Strengthen our partnerships with community and community organisations to host open, welcoming and low-cost community events
- Maintain spaces for people to come together, aiming to reduce barriers to participation in our community
4.2 Our community cares
We support each other even when times are tough. Our community is welcoming, accessible, creative, fun, and everyone belongs.
Priorities
- Develop strategies that are community-focused and help residents new and old belong
- Strengthen our partnerships to make our community safer, both in-person and online
- Extend our partnerships to support people experiencing homelessness
4.3 Our children and young people thrive
All children are nurtured to grow, play, and learn. Our young people are empowered to lead.
Priorities
- Keep partnering to provide health services to young children, including Multi-Agency Risk Assessment and Management
- Maintain welcoming and culturally safe places for all young people
- Partner to provide local learning, mentoring, working and leadership opportunities for young people
Community Vision 2021-2031
Greater Bendigo celebrates our diverse community. We are welcoming, sustainable and prosperous. Walking hand-in-hand with the traditional custodians of this land. Building on our rich heritage for a bright and happy future.
Values
The community vision is underpinned by five values:
Honesty and accountability, integrity and clarity of language, to ensure that understandable, clear and concise language is used.
A focus on our environment, being both built and natural, and our health, our economy and our heritage.
Capturing our cultural and community diversity.
To help with ongoing growth, including creativity, adaption, continuous improvement and efficiency, so as the city and community continues to evolve and prosper.
Provide support and give opportunity to others to be part of this community.