July 16th, 2025Your Say

Hepburn Shire Council recently approved a dynamic Arts and Culture Strategy. Why did we spend this money for a consultant? It was full of wonderful hopes for our community.
However council has allocated zero to an Arts and Culture budget and the officer has gone – more valuable knowledge lost to our community.
Quotes from the strategy: “The Council Plan recognises arts as an important part of Hepburn Shire’s social and economic fabric. While less tangible benefits to wellbeing and community cohesion are reason enough to support a healthy local arts and culture environment, the sector also contributes significantly to economic activity in the shire and more broadly in the region.
“Arts and culture is a key drawcard for visitors to the region, with Hepburn Shire attracting 1.4M visitors annually (Tourism Research Australia 2023) with these visitors spending more than $335M in 2023.
“Arts and cultural experiences improve the visitor experience and increase the length of stay in-region as well as encouraging return visitation. The 2023 REMPLAN data indicates that tourism is the largest employer in the shire, accounting for 949 jobs in the Shire which is one in six of total jobs.
“Arts and culture also generate direct income and employ people at numerous levels for artists and in the production and delivery of cultural services.”
Wouldn’t it be wiser to drop the $300k plus on yet another feasibility plan for the town hall dream that is so out of reach? Council should divert that budget and invest in our youth, our arts and culture and libraries.

• Gary Lawrence, Daylesford