East Gippsland's work in disaster readiness and recovery and providing a mobile service to all corners of the shire are in the spotlight.
East Gippsland Shire Council has been announced as a finalist in two categories of the prestigious LGPro Awards for Excellence, which recognise and celebrate outstanding achievements across Victoria's local government sector.
Council's Strengthened Disaster Readiness and Resilience East Gippsland initiative is a finalist in the Disaster Readiness and Recovery category, and the Mobile Service Initiative (two vehicles that provide Council services including a library) has been named a finalist in the Service Delivery category.
The LGPro Awards are considered the highest accolades for professional excellence in the sector, showcasing projects that drive innovation, strengthen communities, and deliver meaningful outcomes for residents. Winners will be announced at the LGPro Awards for Excellence Dinner on Thursday 5 June at the Grand Hyatt Melbourne.
Mayor Cr John White said being recognised in both categories Council entered was a significant honour.
"These nominations reflect our deep commitment to the people of East Gippsland - particularly those in remote and vulnerable communities," John said.
"Our emergency preparedness initiative is empowering local leadership and delivering real resilience on the ground, while our mobile service program is bringing essential services - and human connection - to even the most isolated areas.
"We're proud to be setting the benchmark for what's possible when local government listens to its community and works in true partnership with them."
The Strengthened Disaster Readiness and Resilience East Gippsland initiative was developed following the 2019/20 Black Summer Bushfires. It embeds community leadership into emergency planning, delivering locally developed preparedness plans, emergency infrastructure upgrades, and new inclusion-focused resources across the shire.
The program has delivered:
- Forty-six Local Incident Management Plans (LIMPs) and 14 Community Emergency Management Plans (CEMPs)
- Victoria's first local government Disaster Dashboard (emergencydashboard.eastgippsland.vic.gov.au)
- Person-centred emergency plans and sensory-friendly tools to support neurodiverse residents
- Microgrids, backup generators, solar and battery systems, water tanks, and upgraded emergency shelters
The Mobile Service Initiative is more than a library on wheels - it's a vital, multi-service hub that delivers Council and digital access to communities with limited or no internet, phone service, or reliable transport. The service provides customer support, digital connectivity, and outreach in areas often over an hour from supermarkets, banks, or Council offices.
Key outcomes include:
- Free wi-fi, public computers, and IT help in remote areas
- Integration of Council services such as rates, permits and local laws
- Collaboration with organisations to provide mobile counselling, community events and support services
- Access to library services in aged care facilities and Indigenous communities via GEGAC partnerships
- A flexible and responsive team that adapted through COVID-19 delays and van breakdowns to ensure service continuity - even using milk crates to transport materials when needed
"Both programs are scalable models that have already attracted interest from other councils and forums. They demonstrate how local government can lead in accessibility, inclusion and resilience, even in the face of adversity," John said.
Last year Council won awards for its DataCentre and ICT Footprint consolidation project, and the Genoa Pedestrian Bridge rebuild. It was highly commended for the new Tambo Crossing Community Facility.
