Social infrastructure - including community facilities and open spaces - is the fabric of our community. These are the places and spaces that bring people together, where friendships are made, and where we access vital services, activities, and events. For many of us, they feel like a second home.

What we are doing

Council is developing a Social Infrastructure Planning Framework (policy and plan) and we need to understand what community places and spaces you value most, your feedback on current project priorities and your advice to guide Council in the prioritisation of investment in a constrained financial environment.

Our Places and Spaces - State of Play 2024 is the first step in developing the framework and provides a summary of Council's proposed approach to social infrastructure planning and projects. We want to ensure we can continue to sustainably plan and deliver these places and spaces where, when and how they are needed most.

The framework will consist of a policy and plan to:

• Set clear, fair rules for how we decide what spaces to provide, based on evidence of community needs.
• Lay out a prioritised list of projects so everyone knows what’s planned in their area.
• Make sure we can sustainably plan and deliver community places and spaces—where and when they’re needed—within available budgets. Government funding will be required to realise our aspirations.

How you can have your say

• See what social infrastructure currently exists in your town and what's planned for the next 5-10 years.
• Tell us what community places and spaces you use and value.
• Tell us what you would like Council to consider when prioritising investment in social infrastructure in your town.

You can provide your feedback on as many towns as you like. We’ll use your feedback to draft the policy and plan for consideration by Council in December.

If you need a hard copy of the survey please call us on (ph) 03 5261 0600. Survey closes Tuesday 30 September 2025.