Council will continue to hold the Victorian Government to account on relevant matters, while also seeking external funding for key projects, through the new Advocacy Projects Prospectus.
This recently published document - the result of a priority list of items endorsed at the December 2025 Council Meeting - outlines a succinct, informed and realistic list of advocacy priorities - be that for external decisions or for funding support - on behalf of the Macedon Ranges community.
Mayor Kate Kendall said Council had worked with the community to include testimonials on a number of the priorities identified, reinforcing a collaborative joint-advocacy approach.
"Our number one priority is funding for both state-managed and Council-managed roads," she said. "Additional priorities include pursuing Victorian Government accountability on important planning processes, state-managed roads, and state-managed assets; and seeking funding to progress the Barkly Square Pavilion and a mental health-focused Youth Hub, and measures to protect our wildlife and enhance our biodiversity."
"We intend to continue ramping up advocacy on these matters we've already identified, and also identify new advocacy opportunities that align with our Council Plan and other strategic priorities, to both the sitting government, the opposition and other key decision makers with the State Election later this year in mind."
The Prospectus includes the following items:
- State Government Accountability: Ongoing advocacy and seeking Victorian Government action.
- Prioritising Local Roads: Investment in addressing sections of key local roads, with individual road projects valued between $840,000 and $2.5 million (a total of $7.315 million sought).
- Delivering Barkly Square Pavilion: Construction of a multi-purpose recreational pavilion to support improved, all-gender facilities, with $3.544 million sought.
- Resilient Futures for our Young People: Creation of a local Youth Hub offering mental health support, drug and alcohol and gambling harm-minimisation programs, and youth engagement activities, with $2 million sought.
- Protecting Our Wildlife: Targeted mitigation measures, along with dynamic signage and speed management interventions, to address and reduce wildlife roadstrike, with $500,000 sought.
- Enhancing Our Biodiversity: Acquiring biodiversity datasets at key intervals to provide a robust evidence base for biodiversity planning and protecting and enhancing the Macedon Ranges' natural environment, with $55,000 sought.
- Progressing Key Master Plans: Seeking to progress existing endorsed master plans that guide the future development of key recreational and open space reserves across the shire, outlining opportunities to ensure that future funding is directed in a realistic and strategic way.
Visit mrsc.vic.gov.au/advocacy to read the Advocacy Projects Prospectus in full, and keep up to date with the latest Council-led advocacy matters.
