Community Plans & Reports

Council Plan - Major Review

The Council Plan is the Shire’s key strategic document that outlines the community’s long‑term aspirations, priorities and desired outcomes. It also identifies the actions the Shire will take to work towards these goals and respond to local needs. In line with standard industry practice, the Council Plan is reviewed annually, with a major review every four years - the next one is happening now.

The Shire has been seeking community input throughout the 2025-2026 financial year to ensure the Plan remains current, relevant and aligned with the views captured through the recent MARKYT® Community Scorecard and other engagement activities.

Progress Summary

  • MARKYT Community Scorecard survey completed by the community in 2025, conducted by CATALYSE.

Through this, community members shared their feedback, concerns, and ideas for the future. A wide range of topics were covered, including community services, safety, facilities, culture, events, transport infrastructure, sport and recreation, arts, heritage, and more.

  • The Shire invited community members, groups and local businesses to attend one of two Community Workshops held in Donnybrook and Balingup on 19 February 2026.

These workshops were facilitated by CATALYSE on behalf of the Shire who presented an overview of the findings from the Community Scorecard. Afterwards, attendees participated in group discussions and described their preferred vision for the Shire, contributing towards prioritising the various projects and new works suggested by Council and the community to address local needs.

Workshop Details (Events Calendar)

Next Steps

  • CATALYSE is compiling the feedback gathered throughout this major review and is creating a final draft Council Plan (text-only), which will be presented to Council for consideration.

Once the updates have been adopted by Council, the final version will be designed and published on our website - watch this space!

See Upcoming Council Meetings 

Other Strategic & Corporate Planning Documents

Council Plan - Biannual Progress Reports

Asset Management & Financial Informing Plans

The Shire manages around $335 million in community assets, including roads, bridges, footpaths, buildings, parks, and other infrastructure that support everyday services.

The Shire’s Asset Management Plans provide a strategic overview and consolidated financial summary of Council’s asset management planning. It additionally identifies future objectives to continually mature and improve Council’s asset management framework to enhance available information for strategic decision making.

The Asset Management Plans forecast what work is needed, when it should happen, what it will cost, and how it will be funded. They are accompanied by the following Financial Informing Plans:

  • Reserve Fund Plan – Shows how money is saved and used across Council’s reserve funds. These reserves help pay for future projects, asset replacement, upgrades, and statutory commitments, reducing the need for borrowing.
  • Borrowings Plan – Outlines how Council uses debt responsibly, ensuring borrowing stays within safe limits and is part of a planned, long term financial strategy.
  • Rating Objectives Strategy – Explains how rates are set, why they are structured the way they are, and the goals that guide the Shire’s approach. This ensures rates remain fair, strategic, and aligned with community needs.
    • Important: The focus of the Strategy is different to that of the Annual Budget – it does not set out expected levels of rate revenue increases/decreases over outgoing financial years. Instead, it focuses on the types of rates to be charged and how the required amounts are fairly and equitably distributed amongst Council’s ratepayers.

Together, these plans form the backbone of the Shire’s long term financial and asset planning, ensuring community infrastructure is well managed and sustainable into the future.

Corporate & Financial Planning

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