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East Gippsland Shire Council highlights telecommunications infrastructure when advocating over thirty goals for community resilience and development

East Gippsland Shire Council's latest Advocacy Strategy highlights telecommunications infrastructure as a key priority among 31 advocacy goals, aiming for community resilience and development.

By news@gippsland - 22nd April 2024 - Back to News

Seeking improvements to the region's telecommunications infrastructure and coverage is one of seven critical priorities identified by East Gippsland Shire Council in its latest Advocacy Strategy. Adopted this month, the strategy outlines the critical advocacy priorities identified by council for our community. The strategy will support a strong program of advocacy targeted at key decision makers and at building a coalition of support around the issues of most importance for East Gippsland's communities.

The Advocacy Strategy outlines initiatives aligned with community priorities, driven by council decisions, strategic objectives, and partnerships

Council advocacy priorities

Mayor Cr Tom Crook said talking with Victorian and Australian government representatives, other elected representatives and other decision makers about the needs and aspirations of East Gippsland is an important part of council's role. "Advocacy is not just telling people what we need as a region, it's explaining to them why the improvement or change is needed, and what the benefits will be," Cr Crook said.

Of the 31 advocacy priorities, council has identified seven critical priorities that will be the primary focus of advocacy efforts in 2024:

Digital connectivity

Increase the resilience of telecommunications infrastructure during disasters, improve the quality and extent of coverage to support regional living, provide equitable access to services and digital technologies.

National Disaster Recovery Funding reform

Disaster funding arrangements, at state and national levels, that ensure relief and recovery funds are directed to community resilience activities.

Asset management

Asset maintenance is funded through a non-competitive format by the Australian and Victorian governments based on need and local government size.

Housing availability for workers

Availability of housing at reasonable prices to support the attraction of critical workers for support services, businesses, and industry.

Climate change mitigation and adaptation

To support net zero emissions by 2050.

State-wide flood mapping integration

That Victoria's planning schemes include updated flood mapping to better identify and mitigate flood risks. This benefits all Victorians by helping us build more resilient communities and infrastructure.

Native timber industry transition

A new approach to native forest silviculture is adopted that provides for forest health, reduced bushfire risk and benefits for a range of forest users including high value timber production. That impacted workers, business and communities are effectively supported in their transition.

"All other priorities in the strategy will continue to be the focus of advocacy efforts and will be pursued as opportunity arises or further developed as required," Cr Crook said.

Get in touch with council

Cr Crook added, "Council provides a wide range of services and is responsible for a significant number of assets, including land and buildings, across the shire. However, as can be seen in the strategy, our advocacy efforts are not only limited to our areas of responsibility. Our aim is to press for improvements that will make a difference in the lives of people who live, work, visit or invest here," he said.

During this council term, council's advocacy has resulted in: