June 8th, 2025A plan to face the future: council adopts Future Hepburn plan

Adopted in recent days at the council's scheduled May meeting, the Future Hepburn is being described as a "once-in-a-generation opportunity to shape the shire’s approach to land use and development".

In what has been flagged as the next significant step in the long-term strategic land use program, the Hepburn Shire Council has adopted its ‘Future Hepburn Settlement Strategy and Implementation Plan’.

Adopted in recent days at the council’s scheduled May meeting, the Future Hepburn is being described as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity to shape the shire’s approach to land use and development”.

Mayor Cr Don Henderson said the adoption of the implementation plan was an essential step forward following the initial endorsement of Future Hepburn in September 2024.

“In September 2024, Council adopted the Rural Strategy along with Town Structure Plans for Clunes, Creswick, Daylesford/Hepburn Springs, Glenlyon, and Trentham. These were informed by significant community engagement, including five township community panels,” Cr Henderson said.

“The adoption of the Rural Strategy and Structure Plans provides the framework for the next phase, which is integrating these priorities into the planning scheme to guide future land use and development decisions across the Shire.”

“The implementation plan outlines the steps required to translate the community’s vision into planning controls and includes further engagement, formal Council decisions, Ministerial approval, and input from an independent planning panel.”

The newly adopted implementation plan details how the council will deliver on the strategy’s recommendations, with prioritisation based on financial sustainability, alignment with current strategic projects, delivery of community benefits, and management of associated risks and opportunities.

“This approach strikes a balance between cost and urgency, ensuring rural, environmental, and township character protections are implemented efficiently. It ensures that key protections and strategic goals will be realised within this Council term,” said Cr Don Henderson.

There will be further community consultation on specific structure plan changes that varied significantly compared to the June 2024 consultation draft. These consultations are to occur before any planning scheme changes are initiated by the council for those areas under the implementation plan.

Future Hepburn forms part of the council’s broader strategic planning responsibilities. The strategic planning team is also advancing work on an Integrated Transport Strategy, leading planning advocacy, responding to major state government projects (including renewable energy proposals like VNI West and the Nyaninyuk windfarm), opposing the Western Renewables Link, and supporting the implementation of the Biodiversity Strategy and Sustainable Hepburn initiatives.

The council has reaffirmed its commitment to long-term, strategic planning through its draft Council Plan and Budget, with over $1 million allocated to delivering on Future Hepburn.

This story based on a Hepburn Shire Council media release.