CEO's message

The Town entered the 2021–2022 financial year still living with the COVID-19 pandemic. Setting a budget and ensuring services and programs continued, while maintaining our assets and capital works program, has been challenging and a true collaboration between Council and Administration.

Our teams have had to adapt rapidly over the past two years, with our normal business model shifting online and many of our services changing to meet the new needs of our community. Local Government isn’t usually known for speed and innovation, however these sudden changes, in some cases within only a few days, have shown what we are capable of.

This year has also been about moving on from the pandemic and taking what we have learnt into a new way of working. Our library moved to contactless borrowing and returns via the Radio Frequency Identification Program. We also launched our Literacy and Lifelong Learning strategy to ensure all members of our community have access to technology and the ability to use it to its full potential.

Our Town continued to play our part in the global community with the Climate Crisis Emergency Plan development and the continued roll out of the Urban Forest strategy. The Town remains on track to reach zero emissions targets by 2030. We also began the move to a three bin model with a community education campaign to change waste behaviour.

We have seen a large increase in the number of people enjoying and using our parks over the past year. We finished the redevelopment of the GO Edwards Park, including two dog agility areas for the furry members of our community. The nature play areas and climbing walls have transformed this once underutilised site into a family-friendly destination for our community and visitors to the Town.

Our collaboration efforts with neighbouring Local Governments have grown this year, with the formalising of our advocacy efforts in the South East Corridor with the establishment of SECCA and continued efforts to drive partnerships in the region.

Over the course of the year, we found time to celebrate, including the once in a lifetime AFL Grand Final being hosted in the Town, which brought people into Vic Park before and after the game to enjoy the hospitality of our local businesses.

On reflection of yet another challenging and unpredictable year, I couldn’t be prouder of what the Town has achieved and the support, care and spirit shown in our community.

I thank everyone for their efforts, resolve and continued resilience in working together to ensure that Vic Park remains a dynamic place for everyone well into the future.

Vuleta Chief Executive Officer