Whitehorse News - May 2023

Thank you for your feedback on the Council Plan and 2023/24 Budget last year. 

We conducted an extensive community engagement process including:

• An online survey from 5 September to 25 October 2022;
• Vox pops in each of the Councillor Wards and at the Spring Festival;
• Two drop-in sessions; and
• A prioritising workshop with the Shaping Whitehorse Panel.

More than 500 pieces of feedback were received. This feedback has contributed to the review of the Council Plan and informed the development of the Proposed Budget 2023/24.
Early engagement meant Council could identify important themes and make informed decisions as the budget development progressed. 

The top themes to emerge from the community feedback on the Council Plan and Budget were:

Priorities for the Council Plan for next 12 months	Projects or priority actions for consideration in the Proposed Budget 2023/24
New Infrastructure/ Asset Management	Community Infrastructure
Natural Environment	Hardcourts
Health and Wellbeing	Open Space Amenity
Programs and Services	Ovals / Reserves
Transport and Roads	Paths and Trails

In devising the Proposed Budget 2023/24 Council has been responsive to our community’s feedback. 

For detailed feedback on how we responded to each theme, please refer to the relevant Your Say page.

The Council Plan has been updated to clearly link Council activities with our strategic directions and alignment with the Community Vision 2040. Actions have been more clearly defined and measurable. Both documents will be available for display from Wednesday 10 May and will be formally considered by Council for adoption on Monday 26 June. 

To read the Proposed Budget 2023/24 and the Council Plan please check our Your Say Page from Wednesday 10 May at yoursay.whitehorse.vic.gov.au/council-plan-budget

Project timeline

1. Council Plan & Budget Broad Community Engagement
   5 September & 25 October 2022
2. Shaping Whitehorse Community Panel Workshop
   22 October 2022
3. Engagement Findings Reported to Council
   December 2022
4. Councillor Budget Briefings
   March 2023
5. Closing the Loop with the Community
   May 2023
6. Revised Council Plan and Proposed Budget 2023/24 on display
   10 May - 24 May 2023
7. Information Session 1 
   Box Hill Town Hall
   17 May 2023
8. Information Session 2 
   Willis Room, Nunawading
   18 May 2023
9. Council considers Council Plan, Budget 2023/24 and Revenue and Rating Plan for Adoption
   26 June 2023

Invitation

Council invites the community to join us for one of two information sessions where the Proposed Budget 2023/24 will be on display. 

Council officers will be available to answer questions and discuss the budget. 

When: Wednesday 17 May, 6:30pm to 8:30pm 
Where: Box Hill Town Hall 
or
When: Thursday 18 May, 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Where: Civic Centre Nunawading, Willis Room

How the Budget is shaped

Council’s annual budget determines how much is spent on what and when, including services and programs to be rolled out by Council.
It’s strongly informed by the:

• Whitehorse Community Vision 2040; and
• Council Plan 2021-25

Along the way, we also engage the community through various activities to have their say and provide feedback about what services, programs and initiatives they want to see more of.

This helps Council to understand and identify community priorities, aspirations and themes to make informed decisions as the Budget is being developed.

Feeding off the Council Plan, this year’s Proposed Budget includes five themes the community told us were important from our engagement activities in October last year. 

They include:

• Community infrastructure
• Hardcourts
• Open Space Amenity
• Ovals / Reserves 
• Paths and Trails. 

Thanks for being involved and Council looks forward to delivering these important services to the Whitehorse community.