Community members are invited to help shape a new East Gippsland Aquatic Strategy.

The strategy will guide future investment, service delivery, and infrastructure planning across the shire’s aquatic facilities.

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Mayor John White said East Gippsland Shire Council was looking for community members from across the shire to be involved in the development of the strategy.

“We are setting up a project reference group, which will have community members involved from the start of the strategy development,” John said.

“The project reference group – predominantly a mix of community members – will be established before a strategy contract is released in early 2026. We want to have the community’s voice help guide the project from the start. An independent consultant will then work alongside the group to ensure local perspectives, current realities, and future aspirations are all well understood.”

The strategy will consider:

• The condition and capacity of existing facilities
• Emerging community needs
• Opportunities for redevelopment and innovation
• A peer review of the 2015 strategy to ensure ongoing relevance and effectiveness

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Council is calling for expressions of interest from people to form the reference group who can provide a mix of perspectives including:  

• Broad community representation from different locations, cultural backgrounds and interests in aquatic and sporting facilities within the shire
• Key stakeholder and current user group representation
• Representation from relevant industry bodies

This selected group will work together to get the best result for the East Gippsland community and will include four stakeholder and user group representatives, four positions for interested community members, and two representatives from aquatic and recreation industry bodies.

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To read the Project Reference Group terms of reference or to express your interest in being considered for the Project Reference Group, visit https://yoursay.eastgippsland.vic.gov.au/east-gippsland-aquatic-strategy,

email feedback@egipps.vic.gov.au or pick up a EoI form from any of our customer service centres or recreation facilities.

Expressions of Interest close at 12pm on Monday 8 December 2025.

Members of Project Reference Group will be confirmed later in December 2025.

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"The aquatic strategy is an important step in ensuring facilities remain sustainable and responsive to community needs,” John said.

“Our aquatic facilities are well-loved community spaces that support health, wellbeing, and connection. This development of a new strategy will ensure we plan for facilities across the shire while balancing community priorities with demand, cost and feasibility. We want to ensure the right services are provided in the right places.”

Council will continue to provide updates as the project progresses, including opportunities for wider community feedback on the draft strategy.

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