South Gippsland Shire Council Strategy and Audit for Social Community Infrastructure

The South Gippsland Shire (Council) has reviewed it’s community facilities, as well as those facilities owned and managed by other community sectors in the Shire, to better manage and plan for sustainable population and infrastructure growth into the future. Part 2, the town audit and mapping results show that Council currently owns and/or manages 525 community facilities with the community also owning and/or managing another 380 sites, totalling over 905 sites used for the community’s social activities. Council recognises that owning and maintaining a large number of facilities is may not be financially viable in the long-term and may not support the efficient use of its resources particularly when they are single purpose or significantly
underutilised. The purpose of this strategy is to develop an integrated planning approach for the location of Social Community Infrastructure in the townships, villages and localities of the South Gippsland Shire, to ensure infrastructure is located in areas where it is most appropriate for future growth of the Shire. To identify the current and future (fifteen years) community facility needs for the South Gippsland Shire by target group, and activity centre (town and district catchment where appropriate) in order to improve the quality, quantity, sustainability and accessibility of community facilities servicing the municipality by: mapping existing community facilities located within the Shire including both Council and non-Council facilities; providing a clear framework for the provision of community social facilities to 2029. This strategy also aims to identify and develop strategies to meet future needs for community facilities by: identifying the facility types needed and where – whether it is specific or strategic in nature; considering the availability of other community facilities in the area; aiming to complement, rather than duplicate, existing community facilities to help create an integrated network of community hubs that offer equitable opportunities; considering other government and non-government agencies that may be able to provide services from facilities; and assessing opportunities to enhance community integration to benefit the wider community.