Council Meeting - Agenda - 25 march 2026

minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Council held on 25 February 2026, as circulated be taken as read and confirmed. 6.2 MINUTES 25 FEBRUARY 2026 – CLOSED (CONFIDENTIAL) MEETING Minutes of the Closed (Confidential) meeting of Council held on 25 February 2026 be taken as an accurate record and confirmed. Recommended Motion:

minutes of the Closed (Confidential) Meeting of Council held on 25 February 2026, as circulated be taken as read and confirmed. 25 March 2026 6 of 72 AGENDA – ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL 7 DECLARATION OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST Pursuant to Division 2 – Conflict of Interest, of the Local Government Act 2020 general and material conflict of interest must be declared prior to debate on specific items within the agenda; or in writing to the Chief Executive Officer before the meeting. A Councillor who has declared a conflict of interest in respect of a matter must: a) Disclose the conflict of interest in the manner required by the Yarriambiack Shire Council Governance Rules (Chapter 5- Disclosure of Conflict of Interest at Council Meetings). b) Exclude themselves from the decision-making process in relation to that matter, including any discussion or votes on the matter at any Council meeting or delegated committee, and any action in relation to the matter. General conflict of interest is if a relevant person has an interest in a matter if an impartial, fair-minded person would consider that the person’s private interests could result in that person acting in a manner that is contrary to their public duty. a) Private interests mean any direct or indirect interest of a relevant person that does not derive from their public duty and does not include an interest that is only a matter of personal opinion or belief. b) Public duty means the responsibilities and obligations that a relevant person has to members of the public in their role as a relevant person. Material conflict of interest is if a relevant person has an interest in respect of a matter if an affected person would gain a benefit or suffer a loss depending on the outcome of the matter, a) The benefit or loss incurred may be directly or indirectly, OR b) In a pecuniary or non-pecuniary form. Councillors are also encouraged to declare circumstances where there may be a perceived conflict of interest. 7.1 CONFLICT OF INTEREST DECLARED Conflict Declared by Agenda Item Reason - Explanation 25 March 2026 7 of 72 AGENDA – ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL 8 BUSINESS ARISING 8.1 BUSINESS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MINUTES As per ongoing and pending actions list, Item 8.2. 8.2 ONGOING AND PENDING ACTIONS Council Meeting Recommendation Action Action Taken 28 August 2024 Resheet a section of Mellis Road, from This job aims to be completed by 30 Stawell Warracknabeal Road to a June 2026. Item 15.13 property 4.3km to the East. 30 June 2025 Enter into an agreement with the Not yet commenced. Agreement to be Rupanyup Recreation Reserve outlining developed in February 2026. Item 15.5

funds received from the NBN Tower rental must be utilised towards infrastructure upgrades and/or ground and building maintenance at the Rupanyup Recreation Reserve. 29 October 2025 Provide a report back to Council in 12 Report to be provided in October 2026. months’ time, outlining the progress of Item 15.8 sourcing alternative grants and/or revenue streams to fund the Automated Weather Station maintenance. Report due by 29 October 2026. 26 November 2025 Ensure that sanitary bins are available in Implementation plan being enacted. Council’s public toilets, wherever female Item 14.3 disposal facilities exist. 10 December 2025 Land transfer of land, Wheatlands Lawyer engaged to commence the Agriculture Museum, to the process. Item 15.1 Warracknabeal and District Historical Society. 10 December 2025 Transfer of land, 40 Anderson Street This will occur once funding is secured Warracknabeal, to E2E Growth. to develop the site. Item 15.2 28 January 2026 Provide a oneoff financial contribution of CLOSED $33,000 to Wimmera Southern Mallee Item 14.2 ByFive, condit‑ional upon equivalent Awaiting other Council decisions. The decision has been communicated to contributions being committed by the ByFive. other Wimmera Southern Mallee Councils. 28 January 2026 Commence the community consultation CLOSED process regarding the Proposed Waste Item 15.2 Community consultation concluded at and Recycling Service changes. 5.00pm on Friday 13 March 2026. At the conclusion of the community Report on findings and Council Officer consultation process, findings will be recommendations to be presented at formally presented to Councillors, Council Meeting on 25 March 2026. accompanied by recommendations from Council Officers regarding the future approach to waste and recycling. 25 March 2026 8 of 72 AGENDA – ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL Council Meeting Recommendation Action Action Taken 28 January 2026 Sell the former depot sites in Hopetoun Real Estate Agent engaged to known as: commence the sale process. Item 15.4 • 92 Cummings Street, Hopetoun (Lot 9 LP26623, Lot 10 LP26623, and Lot 11 LP26623), comprising a total area of 3,036 square metres; and • 74-76 Cummings Street, Hopetoun (Lot 2 LP147375), comprising a total area of 1,543 square metres. 28 January 2026 Gift 2 Wood Street, Rupanyup to the In progress. Victorian State Emergency Servies Item 15.5 (VICSES). 28 January 2026 Discontinue and remove the following CLOSED roads from the Yarriambiack Shire Item 15.7 DEECA notified of decision and Council Road Register, as they are published in the Government Gazette. located within Mining Licence MIN5532 (operated by Donald Project Pty Ltd trading as Donald Mineral Sands) and are identified for discontinuation in the approved work plan: i. R Funckes Road (Road ID 1526: Segment Data 2518: 2km) ii. AB Funckes Road (Road ID 1527: Segment Data 9: 3.15km) iii. Westerlands Road (Road ID 1399: Segment Data 3433 & 3434: 1.26km). 25 February 2026 Publish the Councillor Values Statement CLOSED on the ‘Meet Your Councillors’ webpage Item 14.2 The Councillor Values Statement has on Council’s website. been published on Council’s website - Meet Your Councillors - Yarriambiack Shire Council 25 March 2026 9 of 72 AGENDA – ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL 9 PETITIONS No petitions received. 10 MINISTERIAL AND GOVERNMENT CORRESPONDENCE TO COUNCILLORS ONLY Outgoing Date Recipient Details Nil. Incoming Date Sender Details 27/02/2026 Jade Benham MP Email – Response to letter from Mayor Andrew McLean regarding Funding Roads and Council Assets 05/02/2026 The Hon. Nick Staikos MP Letter – Gender Equity 10/02/2026 Sarah Mansfield MP Email – Response to letter from Mayor Andrew McLean regarding Funding Roads and Council Assets 18/03/26 David Southwick MP Email - Request for Feedback: Cladding Safety Victoria Repeal Bill 2026 and Building and Plumbing Administration and Enforcement Bill 2026 25 March 2026 10 of 72 AGENDA – ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL 11 SPECIAL COMMITTEES 11.1 AUDIT AND RISK COMMITTEE MEETING SCHEDULE The proposed scheduled meeting program is as follows for the next 12 months for the Audit and Risk Committee: Date Description 11 May 2026 Ordinary Meeting 10 August 2026 Ordinary Meeting 21 September 2026 Special Financial Statements and Performance Report Meeting 11.2 YARRIAMBIACK TOURISM ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING The Yarriambiack Tourism Advisory Committee Meeting was held on 02 March 2026. Attachment: Yarriambiack Tourism Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes – 02 March 2026 Recommended Motion:

Minutes of the Yarriambiack Tourism Advisory Committee Meeting held on 02 March 2026 be taken as read and confirmed. 25 March 2026 11 of 72 AGENDA – ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL 12 ACTIVITY REPORTS 12.1 MAYOR ACTIVITY REPORT Mayor Andrew McLean (March) Date Activity Location 26/02/26 Victorian Small Business Webinar Online 27/02/26 Hopetoun Former School Site Meeting Online 27/02/26 Mayor, Deputy Mayor and CEO Meeting Online 02/03/26 Coffee with a Councillor Session Beulah 02/03/26 Coffee with a Councillor Session Brim 02/03/26 Coffee with a Councillor Session Warracknabeal Yarriambiack Tourism Advisory Committee 02/03/26 Online Meeting Sunraysia Highway Improvement Committee 03/03/26 Online Meeting 03/03/26 Woomelang DDA Meeting Woomelang 06/03/26 Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Acting CEO Meeting Online 10/03/26 Meeting with Jade Benham MP and CEO Online 10/03/26 Murtoa Progress Association Meeting Murtoa Visit to Q&A Hay with Councillors, CEO and 11/03/26 Warracknabeal Member for Lowan Emma Kealy MP 11/03/26 Meeting with Emma Kealy MP Warracknabeal 11/03/26 Council Forum Warracknabeal 12/03/26 WSMCA Mayor's Lunch Horsham 12/03/26 WSMCA CEO's and Mayor's Meeting Horsham 12/03/26 MAV Delegates Connect Session Online 13/03/26 Mayor, Deputy Mayor and CEO Meeting Online Meeting with Christine Mileham (Independent Advisor) and Governance Support Officer to 13/03/26 Online discuss new OHS Psychological Safety Regulations 17/03/26 Meeting with DTP Horsham 18/03/26 Maddocks Briefing for Rural Councils on recent Online Planning and Environment Act amendments 25 March 2026 12 of 72 AGENDA – ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL Mayor Andrew McLean (March) 18/03/26 Beulah Progress Association Meeting Beulah 19/03/26 Mayor, Deputy Mayor and CEO Meeting Online 20/03/26 Coffee with a Councillor Session Hopetoun 20/03/26 Coffee with a Councillor Session Woomelang 20/03/26 Longerenong College Class of 2025 Graduation Horsham 23/03/26 Coffee with a Councillor Session Murtoa 23/03/26 Coffee with a Councillor Session Rupanyup 23/03/26 Coffee with a Councillor Session Minyip 25 March 2026 13 of 72 AGENDA – ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL 12.2 COUNCILLOR ACTIVITY REPORTS Deputy Mayor Corinne Heintze – Dunmunkle Ward (March) Date Activity Location 27/02/26 Hopetoun Former School Site Meeting Online 27/02/26 Mayor, Deputy Mayor and CEO Meeting Online 27/02/26 WSMTG Meeting Horsham 02/03/26 Coffee with a Councillor Session Beulah 02/03/26 Coffee with a Councillor Session Warracknabeal 03/03/26 Minyip Progress Meeting Minyip 06/03/26 Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Acting CEO Meeting Online 06/03/26 Yarrilinks Meeting Minyip Visit to Q&A Hay with Councillors, CEO and Member 11/03/26 Warracknabeal for Lowan Emma Kealy MP 11/03/26 Meeting with Emma Kealy MP Warracknabeal 11/03/26 Council Forum Warracknabeal 13/03/26 Mayor, Deputy Mayor and CEO Meeting Online 13/03/26 FRRR Community Impact Program Horsham 19/03/26 Mayor, Deputy Mayor and CEO Meeting Online 20/03/26 Coffee with a Councillor Session Woomelang 20/03/26 Coffee with a Councillor Session Hopetoun 23/03/26 Coffee with a Councillor Session Murtoa 23/03/26 Coffee with a Councillor Session Rupanyup 23/03/26 Coffee with a Councillor Session Minyip Cr Melinda Keel – Dunmunkle Ward (March) Date Activity Location 10/03/26 Murtoa Community Meeting Murtoa Visit to Q&A Hay with Councillors, CEO and Member 11/03/26 Warracknabeal for Lowan Emma Kealy MP 11/03/26 Meeting with Emma Kealy MP Warracknabeal 25 March 2026 14 of 72 AGENDA – ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL 11/03/26 Council Forum Warracknabeal 23/03/26 Coffee with a Councillor Session Murtoa 23/03/26 Coffee with a Councillor Session Rupanyup 23/03/26 Coffee with a Councillor Session Minyip Cr Chris Lehmann – Hopetoun Ward (March) Date Activity Location Visit to Q&A Hay with Councillors, CEO and Member 11/03/26 Warracknabeal for Lowan Emma Kealy MP 11/03/26 Meeting with Emma Kealy MP Warracknabeal 11/03/26 Council Forum Warracknabeal Cr Karly Kirk – Warracknabeal Ward (March) Date Activity Location Leave of Absence Cr Kylie Zanker – Warracknabeal Ward (March) Date Activity Location 02/03/26 Coffee with a Councillor Session Warracknabeal 02/03/26 Chaired the Wimmera Mallee Tourism meeting Warracknabeal 10/03/26 E2E growth Drop In Session Warracknabeal 10/03/26 Warracknabeal Action Group General Meeting Warracknabeal Visit to Q&A Hay with Councillors, CEO and Member 11/03/26 Warracknabeal for Lowan Emma Kealy MP 11/03/26 Meeting with Emma Kealy MP Warracknabeal 11/03/26 Council Forum Warracknabeal 25 March 2026 15 of 72 AGENDA – ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL 12.3 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER ACTIVITY REPORT Tammy Smith (March) Date Activity Location 26/02/26 Foster Care Information Session – Uniting Wimmera Online 26/02/26 AFL Wimmera Mallee Regional Football and Netball Warracknabeal Facilities Strategy – Local Government Engagement 26/02/26 Meeting with West Wind to discuss Housing Strategy Online 26/02/26 Rural Councils Victoria Executive Committee Meeting Online 27/02/26 Local Government Legends Lunch box Episode 5 – Online Service Review that Matter - Panellist 27/02/26 Hopetoun Former School Site Meeting with Hybrid – Stakeholders Warracknabeal and Online 27/02/26 Mayor, Deputy Mayor and CEO Meeting Online 27/02/26 Rural Councils Victoria Committee Meeting Online 01/03/26 Representative of Wimmera Mallee at the South Adelaide Australian Caravan and Camping Show for Grampians, Wimmera Mallee Tourism 02/03/26- Annual Leave 06/03/26 10/03/26 Drop in Session – Housing E2E Growth Consultants Warracknabeal Warracknabeal Murtoa Community Meeting – Facilitated by Murtoa 10/03/26 Murtoa Progress Association, Project Updates 10/03/26 Meeting with Jade Benham MP and Mayor McLean Online 11/03/26 Visit to Q&A Hay with Councillors and Member for Warracknabeal Lowan Emma Kealy MP 11/03/26 Meeting with Emma Kealy MP Warracknabeal 11/03/26 Councillor Forum Warracknabeal 12/03/26 Wimmera Southern Mallee Councils Alliance – Mayor Horsham and CEO Meeting 12/03/26 Meeting with Warracknabeal and District Historical Warracknabeal Society – Agricultural Museum Transfer 13/03/26 Meeting with North West Councils (Readiness Horsham Strategy), Vic Grid, DEECA and Resources Victoria 13/03/26 Mayor, Deputy Mayor and CEO Meeting Online 25 March 2026 16 of 72 AGENDA – ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL Tammy Smith (March) 16/03/26 MAV Connect Online 16/03/26 Interview with Monash University regarding Social Online Licence 17/03/26 Meeting with Department of Transport and Planning Horsham 18/03/26 Joint State / Local Government Monthly CEO Forum Online 18/03/26 Planning for Governor of Victoria Visit Online 18/03/26 Maddocks Briefing for Rural Councils on recent Online Planning and Environment Act amendments 19/03/26 Executive Coach Meeting Online 19/03/26 Mayor, Deputy Mayor and CEO Meeting Online 25 March 2026 17 of 72 AGENDA – ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL 13 PUBLIC QUESTIONS Division 8 – Public Question Time (Yarriambiack Shire Council Governance Rules) Community Members (excluding Councillors) may submit a question to Council. Questions must be submitted in writing, stating the name and address of the person submitting the question, on an approved or permitted form by Council. Public Questions for Council – Yarriambiack Shire Council. Questions must be submitted 24 hours prior to a Council Meeting. The questions will be answered at a Council meeting by the Mayor (Chairperson), or if delegated by the Chairperson, the Chief Executive Officer, a Councillor or a nominated Officer. If questions are submitted less than 24 hours before the Council meeting, they will be answered at the meeting where possible, and if no answer can be given, then a written answer will be given to the person as soon as possible after the Council meeting. No person can submit more than two questions at any Council meeting (unless permitted by the Chair – Mayor). The question will not be allowed if: i. relates to a matter outside the duties, functions and powers of Council; ii. is defamatory, indecent, abusive, offensive, irrelevant, trivial or objectionable in language or substance; iii. deals with a subject matter already answered; iv. is aimed at embarrassing a Councillor or an Officer; v. relates to a personnel matter; or vi. contains or refers or relates to Confidential Information. Questions and answers must be as brief as possible, and no discussion is allowed other than for the purpose of clarification. The Name of Person and Question will be read out by either the Mayor or Chief Executive Officer, and the nominated Councillor / Officer is to respond. The party submitting the question need not physically attend the Council Meeting, however if they are not physically present at the part of the meeting allocated for public question time, the Mayor (Chairperson) may determine that a verbal answer will not be provided at the meeting and a written answer will instead be communicated after the meeting. 13.1 QUESTIONS SUBMITTED Name: Town: Question: Respondent: Response: 25 March 2026 18 of 72 AGENDA – ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL 14 COUNCILLOR REPORTS AND NOTICE OF MOTIONS 14.1 MAYORS REPORT Over the past month or so we have delivered the Coffee with a Councillor session. Our final session concluded on Monday 23 March. It was valuable to visit the various townships across the Shire and engage directly with residents. This month, I participated in several productive meetings focused primarily on housing. We convened with stakeholders to assess progress at the Hopetoun Former School site, organised a drop-in session with E2E Growth Consultants to discuss Warracknabeal Housing initiatives, and attended the Murtoa Community Meeting, where recent housing developments and advancements were highlighted. While challenges persist and at times the work feels formidable, we remain confident that our continued efforts and advocacy will yield positive results. We were pleased to welcome Emma Kealy, Member of Parliament for Lowan, who joined us in visiting Q&A Hay. The establishment of this latest hay exporting enterprise in the Wimmera, locally owned by two local farmers, is a promising development for our Shire. We look forward to new employment opportunities and the prospect of welcoming new residents to join our vibrant communities. Additionally, I met with Jade Benham, Member of Parliament for Mallee, to address the significant renewal gap of $63 million projected over the next decade should additional intervention and funding not be secured for the maintenance of our roadways and infrastructure assets. With the Easter holiday period approaching before the next Council meeting, I would like to extend my best wishes for a safe and restful break. For those travelling, please take care on the roads and enjoy your holiday. 25 March 2026 19 of 72 AGENDA – ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL 14.2 ADDITION TO YARRIAMBIACK SHIRE COUNCIL’S POSITION ON MINING, RENEWABLE ENERGY AND TRANSMISSION LINES Presented by Mayor Andrew McLean SUMMARY The Yarriambiack Shire Council has received multiple inquiries from renewable energy companies about placing transmission infrastructure within road reserves. After obtaining legal advice and considering that guidance, the Council revised its Position Statement on Mining, Renewable Energy, and Transmission Lines to clarify its stance on this issue. Recommended Motion: That Council: a) Adopt the revised Position Statement on Mining, Renewable Energy and Mining as of 25 March 2026; and b) Rescind prior versions of the Position Statement on Mining, Renewable Energy and Mining. ATTACHMENTS Attachment: Yarriambiack Shire Council’s Position on Mining, Renewable Energy and Transmission Lines DISCUSSION Council has been advised that private connection lines on public land needs to be considered against Section 46 of the Electrical Safety Act 1998 (Vic), which restricts private installations on public land unless undertaken on behalf of specific entities, including those licenced or exempt pursuant to the Electricity Industry Act 2000. If a company is licensed under the Electricity Industry Act 2000, Council may review such requests. Consent should not be withheld without reasonable justification, and Council is required to provide clear reasons if consent is denied. Renewable energy and transmission remain a dynamic field. The Council currently lacks the necessary time and resources to address requests that fall outside a clear framework for consideration. Such inquiries are placing demands on the Council’s time, budget, and available resources. Therefore, Council has formed the following position which is included in the revised Position Statement as follows: Council cannot allow power infrastructure to be installed in road reserves or on Council- owned land unless the applicant holds a license under the Electricity Industry Act 2000 to connect renewable energy systems to the grid. If Council receives requests from licensed transmitters, these will only be considered with thorough legal advice—at the requester's expense—with community input, and provided there is no negative impact on residents’ daily lives or landowners access to their lands and infrastructure. OVERARCHING GOVERNANCE PRINCIPLES This Council report has been prepared in accordance with, and to give effect to, the overarching governance principles articulated in section 9 of the Local Government Act 2020, to the extent practicable. 25 March 2026 20 of 72 AGENDA – ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL 15 REPORTS FOR DECISION 15.1 ONSITE WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN 2026-2031 Presented by Matthew Carlin, Manager Community Health SUMMARY The Onsite Wastewater Management Plan 2026-2031 is being presented to Council for endorsement and adoption. This strategic document details the Council’s approach to managing onsite wastewater systems over the next five years, setting updated priorities, actions, and objectives that address current challenges and regulatory demands. The Plan reflects best practices in wastewater management. Recommended Motion: That Council: a) Rescind the prior versions of the Onsite Wastewater Management Plan; and b) Adopt the Onsite Wastewater Management Plan 2026-2031. ATTACHMENTS Attachment: Onsite Wastewater Management Plan 2026-2031 Attachment: Submissions - Onsite Wastewater Management Plan 2026-2031 DISCUSSION This Onsite Waste wa ter Man ageme nt Plan (OWMP ) is a p lanning and m anagem ent document that focuses on Yarriambiack Shire Council’s understanding of the cumu lat i v e risks that onsite waste management systems present in our municipality and shapes Council’s activities in managing those risks now and into the future. This OWMP supports Council’s decision-making when issuing OWMS permits. Risks of harm to human health and the environment (including cumulative risks) will be identified, and the potential impact the OWMS poses in the municipality will be assessed. It then informs Council on what actions to take to better inform decision-making for OWMS permits. RELEVANT LAW The Environment Protection Act 2017 (EPA) and Environment Protection Regulations 2021 (Regulations) set out the laws that apply to owners and occupiers of land with an OWMS and provide councils with a range of powers and tools to regulate OWMS, including: • The requirement for a permit issued by Council to construct, install or alter an OWMS. • Requirements for the operation and maintenance of OWMS for owners and occupiers. • General Environmental Duty (GED) powers delegated by EPA to Council to allow authorised officers to enter and inspect properties with an OWMS, request documentation, require improvements and issue infringements. Yarriambiack Shire Council is also empowered under other legislation that has been considered when developing this OWMP and in issuing an OWMS permit. These include: • Local Government Act 2020 • Water Act 1989 • Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 • Safe Drinking Water Act 2003 and Regulations 2015 • Planning and Environment Act 1987 (P&E Act) 25 March 2026 21 of 72 AGENDA – ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL • Subdivisions Act 1988 COUNCIL PLANS AND POLICIES Council Plan 2025 – 2029 Priorities Strategic Objectives A Healthy and Inclusive Community • Advocate and support community safety initiatives, that enhance community safety and the liveability of our communities. A Resilient and Sustainable Natural • Advocate for responsible land use, with consideration for the Environment natural environment. A Council that serves its Community • Undertake robust and transparent planning and risk management to ensure our organisation is sustainable now and into the future. • Embed good governance practices into all decision making. OVERARCHING GOVERNANCE PRINCIPLES This Council report has been prepared in accordance with, and to give effect to, the overarching governance principles articulated in section 9 of the Local Government Act 2020, to the extent practicable. RELATED COUNCIL DECISIONS Nil. OPTIONS In accordance with section 9(1) and 9(2)(a)–(b) of the Local Government Act 2020, Council must make decisions in accordance with relevant law and give priority to achieving the best outcomes for the municipal community, including future generations. Accordingly, the options available to Council are: 1. Adopt the Onsite Wastewater Management Plan 2026-2031 This option enables Council to meet its legislative obligations, provides a clear strategic framework for managing onsite wastewater systems, and supports the protection of public health and the environment over the next five years. 2. Not adopt the Onsite Wastewater Management Plan 2026-2031 This option would result in Council continuing without an endorsed strategic framework for onsite wastewater management, which may limit Council’s ability to effectively manage cumulative risks, demonstrate best practice, and support informed decision-making in relation to onsite wastewater system permits. SUSTAINABILITY IMPLICATIONS The OWMP outlines the framework for managing onsite wastewater systems, Environmental that protect the environment within Yarriambiack Shire. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT The OWMP underwent a community consultation process in accordance with Council’s Community Engagement Policy and Procedure. The draft Plan was publicly advertised for 28 days seeking submissions and comments. Council received two (2) submissions during the consultation period; however, neither submission provided feedback nor requested amendments to the draft Plan. GENDER IMPACT ASSESSMENT Not required for this report. 25 March 2026 22 of 72 AGENDA – ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL RISK Utilising the Risk Management Framework the following assessment has been made: Strategic Risk Description and Action to Mitigate/Reduce Risk Does Action Residual Risk Level maintain or reduce Residual Risk Level Environmental Sustainability Risk Assessing and issuing permits for onsite Reduces Residual Risk - Residual Risk Level Medium wastewater management systems ensures Level proper waste disposal and environmental protection. REGIONAL, STATE AND NATIONAL PLANS AND POLICIES Not applicable. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST All officers involved in the preparation of this report have declared that they do not have a conflict of interest in the subject matter of this report. 25 March 2026 23 of 72 AGENDA – ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL 15.2 GOVERNANCE RULES (VERSION 3.1) Prepared by Monique Metlika, Governance Support Officer SUMMARY In accordance with section 60 of the Local Government Act 2020, Council is required to develop, adopt and keep in force Governance Rules. These rules govern the conduct of Council and delegated committee meetings, the process for requesting and approving attendance, the format and accessibility of meeting records, and procedures for electing the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and appointing an Acting Mayor. Additionally, the Governance Rules ensure that Council decisions are made impartially and on their merits, and that any individual whose rights may be directly affected by a Council decision is given the opportunity to express their views and have their interests duly considered. This report seeks Council endorsement of the amended Governance Rules (Version 3.1). Recommended Motion: That Council: a) Rescinds the Yarriambiack Shire Council Governance Rules as adopted by a resolution of Council on the 24 July 2024; b) Adopt the amended Yarriambiack Shire Council Governance Rules as attached to this report, that has undertaken a community consultation process in accordance with Councils Community Engagement Policy and Procedure; c) Endorse that the amended Governance Rules of the Yarriambiack Shire Council is made in accordance with Section 60 of the Local Government Act 2020; and d) Endorse that these amended Governance Rules commence on the day following the Council Meeting (26 March 2026) operating throughout the municipality. ATTA CHMENTS Attachment: Governance Rules Attachment: Have Your Say Submission – Governance Rules (v3.1) DISCUSSION Following consultation with the Chief Executive Officer, Governance Support Officer, Mayor and Deputy Mayor, it was agreed that Council Meetings should be recorded and uploaded rather than livestreamed to Council’s YouTube channel. The reasons for this decision are outlined below. Context and History of Council Meeting Livestreaming Council first introduced online streaming of Council Meetings in 2020, when COVID-19 restrictions prevented community members from attending in person. Under section 66(1) of the Local Government Act 2020, Council and delegated committee meetings must remain open to the public. Livestreaming was therefore used as the mechanism to ensure continued compliance with this requirement during the pandemic. After the COVID-19 lockdowns were lifted, Council continued to livestream meetings as a precaution should restrictions return, and because livestreaming had become standard practice. Legislative Requirement for Open Council Meetings Section 66(1) of the Local Government Act 2020 requires Council and delegated committee meetings to be open to the public. A meeting may only be closed in the limited circumstances set out in section 66(2), which allows closure when the meeting is to consider confidential information, security matters, or when it is necessary to enable the meeting to proceed in an orderly manner. 25 March 2026 24 of 72 AGENDA – ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL Under section 66(6) of the Act, open to the public means— a) In the case of a Council meeting or a joint meeting of Councils— i. Attendance in person by members of the public; or ii. A meeting that is broadcasted live on the Internet site of the Council; or iii. Any other prescribed means of meeting. Rationale for Amending the Governance Rules and Transitioning from Livestreaming to Recorded Meetings Inclusivity and Accessibility Following the election of the Mayor on 12 November 2025, the Mayor discussed with the Chief Executive Officer opportunities to improve the clarity, accessibility and inclusiveness of Council Meeting proceedings. In particular, it was proposed that motions being presented for adoption be displayed on the television screen within the Council Chamber for Councillors, and simultaneously on the livestream for community viewers. This approach was intended to enhance transparency, support accessibility needs, and ensure all participants, both in-person and online, could easily follow each motion as it was considered. Community feedback indicated that some viewers found it difficult to determine which motion was currently before Council during the livestream, prompting the development of PowerPoint slides to visually display each motion in real time. The Governance Support Officer and Manager Business Systems investigated options to share these PowerPoint slides through the livestream platform, using Zoom to broadcast to Council’s YouTube channel. However, after multiple trials, it was determined that this method was not technically feasible. Attempts to screen-share during the livestream caused system instability and glitches, and it complicated the Manager Business Systems’ ability to manage the livestream effectively, as switching between screens disrupted the flow and control of the meeting. Technical and Accessibility Insights Gained from the 2025 Hybrid Meeting Recordings The final two Council Meetings of 2025, held on 26 November 2025 and 10 December 2025, were conducted in a hybrid format to accommodate several Councillors who were required to attend electronically. As a result of this requirement, the meetings could not be livestreamed in the usual manner. Instead, they were conducted and recorded using Microsoft Teams (Teams), with the recordings uploaded to Council’s YouTube channel within a few hours of the meetings concluding. This experience highlighted several benefits associated with using Teams for both hybrid participation and recording. Notably, Teams provided greater accessibility and simplicity when sharing the PowerPoint presentation that displayed motions being put forward for adoption. This significantly improved the visibility and clarity of motions for both Councillors and community members viewing the recording. Feedback from the community reinforced these observations. Viewers reported that audio from within the Council Chamber was clearer and more consistent, and that the overall video quality was improved compared with the previous livestreamed meetings. It is believed that livestreaming through Zoom may have reduced the quality of the video feed due to the higher processing demands associated with simultaneous broadcasting. In contrast, recording through Teams required fewer system resources and therefore delivered a smoother, higher-quality output. Although the Teams recordings used the TV camera within the Council Chambers, it is acknowledged that the wall-mounted cameras may provide an even better visual result without the demand of livestreaming. To ensure the best possible quality for future recordings, the Governance Support Officer and Manager Business Systems will conduct testing to determine whether the wall-mounted cameras improve the clarity and consistency of the recorded footage. 25 March 2026 25 of 72 AGENDA – ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL Technical and Accessibility Insights Gained from 2026 Council Meetings During 2026, Council has been utilising a “record-then-upload” approach for Council meetings to support accessibility, as outlined earlier in this report. A number of operational and governance benefits have emerged during this trial period. One key benefit has been the more efficient use of staff resources. Responsibility for managing meeting recordings now sits with the Governance Support Officer, who is already present during Council meetings in their role as minute taker. This change has reduced the administrative burden on the Manager Business Systems and streamlined meeting operations. In addition, the Governance Support Officer has successfully configured Zoom to record meetings using a split-screen layout. This format allows agenda sections and motions to be displayed alongside the live view of the Council Chamber, improving clarity and transparency for viewers. The process has also enabled effective use of the in-wall cameras, allowing camera views to change when individual Councillors are speaking. While overall video quality has only marginally improved to date, this has been identified and will be addressed through further technical refinements in the coming months. Governance and Technical Risks Associated with Livestreaming Transitioning from livestreaming to a “record-then-upload” model strengthens Council’s governance controls and risk-management approach. Recorded meetings allow staff to review the footage prior to publication and remove or redact any defamatory, inappropriate or non-compliant content in accordance with Council’s Governance Rules, legislative requirements and Council’s obligations. This approach maintains transparency while ensuring that Council minimises reputational, legal, and operational risks associated with live broadcasting. Summary of Core Reasons for Moving from Livestreaming to a Record-and-Upload Model While the full reasoning is outlined throughout this report, the key considerations can be summarised as follows: a) Improved audio and visual clarity, resulting in a more accessible and higher quality viewing experience for the community. b) Greater governance and risk management control, including the ability to review and address inappropriate or non-compliant content before publication. c) Enhanced reliability and stability of the technical environment, reducing glitches, audio dropouts and broadcast interruptions previously experienced during livestreams. d) Capability to screen share motions and other visual materials clearly and consistently, improving accessibility and transparency for Councillors and community members. e) Reduced resource demand on Council systems, as recording via Teams or Zoom requires significantly less processing power than livestreaming through Zoom. f) Ability to better support hybrid participation, ensuring that Councillors attending electronically can be integrated into the meeting smoothly without compromising broadcast quality. g) Faster recovery from technical failures, as recordings can be restarted or continued without the visibility and risk associated with a disrupted live broadcast. h) Mitigation of reputational and legal risks, given that live content cannot be instantly stopped and may be viewed, downloaded or shared before issues can be rectified. i) Flexibility to test and optimise camera setups, including assessing whether wall- mounted cameras provide clearer footage when not encumbered by livestreaming demands. 25 March 2026 26 of 72 AGENDA – ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL Community Engagement Requirements for Amending Governance Rules In accordance with section 60(4) of the Local Government Act 2020, a Council must ensure that a process of community engagement is followed in developing or amending its Governance Rules. The community consultation period commenced on 29 January 2026 and concluded on 25 February 2026. One submission was received; however, the comment section was left blank. As the submitter provided their contact details, the Governance Support Officer followed up to seek clarification and ensure their feedback was captured. The submitter subsequently confirmed their support for the amended Governance Rules. Summary of Amendments to the Governance Rules The following changes have been made to the Governance Rules in accordance with the information provided above, as well as other reasonable amendments identified during the review: a) Improvements to the overall format of the document to enhance readability and ease of navigation. For example, multiple separate ‘Table of Contents’ sections have been consolidated into one clear, comprehensive table. b) Addition of an end date under ‘Commencement and End Dates’ on page 6 to clarify version control. c) Amendment to section 2.4.1 to allow 12 business hours for the Mayor’s response, and for notifying other Councillors when a Councillor intends to attend a meeting electronically. This change followed previous discussions with the Mayor, who noted

former 6-hour requirement was impractical and, at times, unfair. d) Updates to section 2.4.6 to specify: i. That Council meetings will be recorded and published online within 6 business hours of the meeting’s conclusion. If technical difficulties occur, the meeting may continue provided the gallery remains open to the public. ii. That if a Council meeting is held entirely online, it must be livestreamed, and if livestreaming fails due to technical issues, it may instead be recorded and uploaded. iii. That delegated committees and joint delegated committees may choose to either livestream or record and upload their meetings, with recordings required to be uploaded within 6 business hours. iv. That special committees may also elect to either livestream or record and upload their meetings, with the same requirement to publish recordings within 6 business hours. e) Additions to section 2.12 to clarify what “open to the public” means under the Local Government Act 2020, including references to the sections of the Act governing when meetings must be open or closed. f) Introduction of a new Chapter 7 – ‘Certification, Accessibility, References, Adoption and Compliance’, along with the following related updates: i. Replacement of references to the Yarriambiack Shire Council Councillor Code of Conduct with references to the Model Councillor Code of Conduct. ii. Inclusion of a table explaining how the Governance Rules address the supporting principles under the Local Government Act 2020, consistent with the approach being adopted across all Council policies, procedures and plans. iii. Addition of section 7.4 specifying the review requirements for the Governance Rules and the obligation under section 60(4) of the Local Government Act 2020 to undertake community consultation for any amendments. iv. Addition of section 7.5 setting out the legislative context and confirming Council’s obligations and compliance with relevant statutory requirements. 25 March 2026 27 of 72 AGENDA – ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL RELEVANT LAW • Section 60 ‘Governance Rules’ – Local Government Act 2020 • Section 66 ‘Meetings to be Open to the Public Unless Specified Circumstances Apply’ – Local Government Act 2020 COUNCIL PLANS AND POLICIES Council Plan 2025 – 2029 Priorities Strategic Objectives A Council that serves its Community • Undertake robust and transparent planning and risk management to ensure our organisation is sustainable now and into the future. • Embed good governance practices into all decision making. • Build trust through engaging with our community, delivering quality services and outcomes. • Consider a broad base of evidence before making decisions, ensuring value for money and responsive, innovative services and solutions are provided. Policies, Procedures, Guidelines, Plans, Strategies and Frameworks Policy Governance Rules Community Engagement Policy and Procedure Other Councillor Values Statement OVERARCHING GOVERNANCE PRINCIPLES This Council report has been prepared in accordance with, and to give effect to, the overarching governance principles articulated in section 9 of the Local Government Act 2020, to the extent practicable. RELATED COUNCIL DECISIONS • 26 August 2020 – Ordinary Council Meeting Minutes – Item12.3 Governance Rules 2020 • 24 August 2022 – Ordinary Council Meeting Minutes – Item 14.1 Governance Rules • 24 July 2024 – Ordinary Council Meeting Minutes – Item 15.2 Governance Rules Revision OPTIONS a) Councillors may choose to further revise the Governance Rules; however, it should be noted that the Governance Rules are scheduled for their next formal review on 24 July 2028. This amendment does not alter the scheduled review date. It is also important to note that if further revisions are made prior to that date, the Governance Rules would be required to undergo an additional community consultation process in accordance with legislative requirements. SUSTAINABILITY IMPLICATIONS The amended Governance Rules support social sustainability by strengthening transparency, accessibility, and inclusiveness in Council decision-making. The Rules enhance community access to Council meetings through improved recording and publication practices, promote respectful conduct and effective Social dispute resolution, and reinforce public trust through clear, consistent governance processes. Collectively, these measures contribute to a fair, inclusive, and well-functioning local democratic system that supports the wellbeing of Councillors, staff, and the broader community. 25 March 2026 28 of 72 AGENDA – ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT In accordance with section 60(4) of the Local Government Act 2020, a Council must ensure that a process of community engagement is followed in developing or amending its Governance Rules. The community consultation period commenced on 29 January 2026 and concluded on 25 February 2026. One submission was received; however, the comment section was left blank. As the submitter provided their contact details, the Governance Support Officer followed up to seek clarification and ensure their feedback was captured. The submitter subsequently confirmed their support for the amended Governance Rules. GENDER IMPACT ASSESSMENT Not required for this report. RISK Utilising the Risk Management Framework the following assessment has been made: Strategic Risk Description and Action to Mitigate/Reduce Risk Does Action Residual Risk Level maintain or reduce Residual Risk Level Corporate Governance, The amended Governance Rules maintain a low Maintains Residual Risk Compliance and Liability Risk - level by clarifying meeting procedures, roles, Level Residual Risk Level Low and decision-making processes in accordance with the Local Government Act 2020. The revisions strengthen transparency, consistency, and legislative compliance, reducing the likelihood of procedural error, governance failure, or legal challenge. As the amendments refine and formalise existing governance controls rather than introduce new practices, the residual risk level is maintained. REGIONAL, STATE AND NATIONAL PLANS AND POLICIES Not applicable. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST All officers involved in the preparation of this report have declared that they do not have a conflict of interest in the subject matter of this report. 25 March 2026 29 of 72 AGENDA – ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL 15.3 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY Prepared by Tammy Smith, Chief Executive Officer SUMMARY In late 2025, Councillors determined that the Yarriambiack Shire Council Economic Development Strategy 2023-2027 did not align with current operations. The Chief Executive Officer was asked to revise the strategy to match the Council Plan and reflect present conditions. This paper presents the revised Economic Development Strategy 2025-2029 that has undertaken community consultation. Recommended Motion: That Council: a) Rescind the Economic Development Strategy 2023-2027; and b) Adopt the Economic Development Strategy 2025-2029 as attached to this report. ATTACHMENTS Attachment: Economic Development Strategy 2025-2029 Attachment: Submissions - Economic Development Strategy DISCUSSION The Economic De vel opment Strate gy sets out Co uncil’s long-te rm app roach to supporting a diverse, resilient and sustainable local economy. It provides a strate gic framework to guide Council decision-making, advocacy and investment in areas such as business development, employment, industry diversification and economic opportunities across the Shire. The Economic Development Strategy has been subject to a targeted review to ensure ongoing alignment with Council’s Position Statement on Mining, Renewable Energy and Transmission Lines, along with the Council Plan 2025-2029. The Strategy was originally adopted by Council on 23 August 2023 and was scheduled for renewal on 28 August 2027. While the Strategy was not due for review at this time, the review was undertaken to confirm consistency with Council’s current policy position and strategic direction. The Economic Development Strategy will be reviewed again in 2029, to align with the next Council Plan. RELEVANT LAW Local Government Act 2020. COUNCIL PLANS AND POLICIES Council Plan 2025 – 2029 Priorities Strategic Objectives An Innovative and Diversified • Advocate and support agriculture, economic development and Economy investment in our region. • Advocate for continued and enhanced funding to enable strategic investment in our roads, footpaths, and associated assets to support tourism, economic development and social inclusion and connection across our Shire. • Understand, support and advocate for services and associated skilled workforces to unlock economic and community development opportunities across our Shire. 25 March 2026 30 of 72 AGENDA – ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL Council Plan 2025 – 2029 Priorities Strategic Objectives A Healthy and Inclusive Community • Develop and/or maintain strong partnerships to deliver high quality services and sustainable infrastructure to enhance the social health and wellbeing outcomes for all our residents. • Plan for and support diverse housing options to meet community needs now and into the future. A Resilient and Sustainable Natural • Advocate and strategically position Council to maintain and Environment enhance water security and harvesting. • Advocate for responsible land use, with consideration for the natural environment. Policies, Procedures, Guidelines, Plans, Strategies and Frameworks Strategy Economic Development Strategy Tourism Strategy Master Environment Strategy OVERARCHING GOVERNANCE PRINCIPLES This Council report has been prepared in accordance with, and to give effect to, the overarching governance principles articulated in section 9 of the Local Government Act 2020, to the extent practicable. RELATED COUNCIL DECISIONS 23 August 2023 – Ordinary Council Meeting Minutes - 15.3 Economic Development Strategy 2023 - 2027 OPTIONS Councillors could choose to adopt the Strategy in its current format, and request that a consultant be engaged to update the strategy, and/or further consultation and development is required. SUSTAINABILITY IMPLICATIONS The Strategy provides clear guidance on the future economic direction and Economic activities with due consideration of data, trends and themes. The aim of developing a comprehensive Economic Development Strategy is to Social enhance economic capacity of the Yarriambiack municipality and improve the quality of life of all residents. The Strategy has been prepared with reference to Council’s internal staffing resources and budget for the Economic Development Service, with commitments Financial and actions being realistic and obtainable to the current resourcing level available. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Council commenced the community consultation for the Economic Development Strategy revision 2025-2029 on 16 February 2026 and it concluded at 5pm on Tuesday 17 March 2026. Community consultation was in accordance with Councils Community Engagement Policy and Procedure. Council had two submissions. One submission did not include feedback, the other submission included the following feedback: I strongly oppose the mining and large-scale renewable energy developments within the Yarriambiack Shire. As a ratepayer and community member, I believe the Shire’s primary responsibility is to support and protect the residents, farmers, and local businesses who live here and contribute to the region every day. These are the people who sustain the local economy and community over the long term. There is growing concern that large external and overseas companies are being prioritised over local 25 March 2026 31 of 72 AGENDA – ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL interests. Developments of this scale can significantly impact agricultural land, landscapes, infrastructure, and the character of our communities. Once these changes occur, they are often permanent and cannot be easily reversed. I urge Council to: * Prioritise the needs and voices of local residents and ratepayers * Protect productive agricultural land and rural lifestyles * Ensure any proposed developments deliver clear, long-term benefits to the local community—not just external investors * Take a cautious and balanced approach to mining and renewable energy projects The Shire should be backing its community first. Development decisions must reflect the long-term interests of residents rather than short-term gains driven by outside entities. In response to the feedback, the Councillors have adopted a Position Statement on Mining, Renewable Energy and Transmission Lines which reflects and highlights community concern and outlines the Councillors advocacy. This was initially adopted in January 2025 and has been reviewed and revised twice since its initial adoption. GENDER IMPACT ASSESSMENT Not required for this report. RISK Utilising the Risk Management Framework the following assessment has been made: Strategic Risk Description and Action to Mitigate/Reduce Risk Does Action Residual Risk Level maintain or reduce Residual Risk Level Strategy Execution and Change The Economic Development Strategy will Maintains Residual Risk Management Risk - Residual Risk provide clear actions that link to the Council Level Level Medium Plan and drive the strategic and operational activities of Council for the next three years. Financial Risk - Residual Risk The Economic Development Strategy has been Maintains Residual Risk Level Medium considered with reference to Council’s current Level resourcing. The Strategy outlines realistic and obtainable initiatives to be undertaken and clearly defines Council’s role. REGIONAL, STATE AND NATIONAL PLANS AND POLICIES a) Wimmera Southern Mallee Regional Economic Development Strategies b) Victorian Transmission Plan c) Victorian Critical Minerals Road Map d) Victoria’s Housing Statement CONFLICTS OF INTEREST All officers involved in the preparation of this report have declared that they do not have a conflict of interest in the subject matter of this report. 25 March 2026 32 of 72 AGENDA – ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL 15.4 WASTE AND RECYCLING CONSULTATION DECISION Prepared by Tim Rose, Chief Operating Officer, Adam Moar, Manager Development and Environmental Service and La Vergne Lehmann, Waste and Sustainability Coordinator SUMMARY The Yarriambiack Shire Council currently provides wastes services through: • The operation of 8 transfer stations (Speed/Tempy, Woomelang, Hopetoun, Beulah, Warracknabeal, Minyip, Murtoa and Rupanyup) • A scheduled Skip bin service at Yaapeet and Patchewollock • Weekly kerbside general waste collection across all towns • Fortnightly kerbside mixed recycling collection across all towns • Bi monthly kerbside glass collection across all towns • Rural general waste, mixed recycling and glass collection (where requested and available); and the • Little Yellow Wagon (for hard to dispose / recycle items). The Council is required to allocate significant financial resources for the ongoing operation of the transfer stations and to ensure adherence to occupational health and safety standards. Currently, the waste and recycling services, including kerbside bin collection and transfer station operations, do not achieve full cost recovery, leading to cross-subsidisation from alternative revenue sources, such as rates. As a result, funds that could be designated for roads and related infrastructure are redirected. Following extensive community consultation, this paper presents several recommendations aimed at achieving full cost recovery for waste and recycling services, as well as diversifying and optimising waste collection methods to promote long-term financial sustainability now and into the future. 25 March 2026 33 of 72 AGENDA – ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL Recommended Motion: That Council: a) Adopt a 10% increase on residential and rural waste and recycling charges for the 26/27 financial year with an aim of achieving full cost recovery; b) Adopt a 50% increase on commercial waste and recycling service charges for the 26/27 financial year, acknowledging that the commercial waste and recycling service is an optional service for rate payers; c) Adopt a strategic position to reduce the hours at the transfer stations and substitute the reduction with a fee-for-service, hard waste collection for eligible residents. d) Adopt the strategic position of no longer providing a free skip bin service in Yaapeet and Patchewollock. Instead, replacing skip bins with a fee-for-service for all residents residing within the townships of Yaapeet and Patchewollock from 01 July 2026. e) Adopt a strategic position to introduce a hard waste collection for eligible residents, with the service definition and conditions outlined in the body of this report (including attachments) to be implemented from 01 July 2026 with a fee of $45 per cubic metre. f) Adopt the implementation of a food organic and waste organic 240L bin on a fortnightly collection rotation from 01 July 2027, subject to the State Governments final guidelines for implementation. g) Adopt to increase the transfer station general waste charge to $45.00 per cubic metre from 01 July 2026. h) Endorse a strategic approach to not make a capital investment into the Woomelang, Beulah, Speed/Tempy, Minyip, and Rupanyup transfer stations. With the long-term plan to close these transfer stations gradually after July 2027 to address financial sustainability concerns. Council Officers are to present a detailed, staged implementation plan to the Council in January 2027 for consideration; and i) Adopt to proceed with the permanent closure of the Yaapeet and Patchewollock transfer stations and undertake the rehabilitation of both locations by 30 June 2027. Additionally, provisions should be included in the 2026/27 budget to facilitate this course of action. ATTACHMENTS At tachment: Have Your Say Information Brochure At tachment: Have Your Say Frequently Asked Questions Li nk: Frequently Asked Questions Website At tachment: Survey Results Report – Proposed Waste and Recycling Service Changes (Public Version) The attachments are confidential information for the purpose of section 3(1) of the Local Government Act 2020, specifically s3(1)(a), s3(1)(e), s3(1)(g). Attachment: Correspondence Proposed Waste and Recycling Service Changes Attachment: Survey Results Report – Proposed Waste and Recycling Service Changes (Councillor Version) 25 March 2026 34 of 72 AGENDA – ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL DISCUSSION 1. Background Waste and recycling have long been identified as financial sustainability challenges for Yarriambiack Shire Council. This is due to its small population, large geographic area, and the fact that the Council does not fully recover the costs of providing these services. As part of the Long-Term Financial Plan assessment, Council conducted a comprehensive evaluation of transfer station and waste management operations, including an analysis of associated fees and charges. Council undertook extensive community consultation, with 3,765 mailouts sent directly to rate payers, advertising extensively via newspapers, radio, Yarri Yarns and social media, which resulted in 173 responses to the waste and recycling survey. The responses represent 4.6% of the mail out percentage. With 95.4% not responding to the survey. After reviewing and taking into consideration the responses, as outlined in the attached survey results report, the following recommendations are being presented to Council for adoption. 2. Recommendations a) Residential - Proposed Changes It is recommended that any new customers procuring services will be offered the 120L general waste, 240L mixed recycling and 120L glass recycling services. Any resident that currently has an 80L general waste collection or 240L general waste collection will remain the same unless the resident requests a change to their service. It is recommended that in the 2026/27 financial year that the residential service charge increase again by 10% with an aim of achieving full cost recovery. Based on the current number of services the 2026/27 charges would be as follows (subject to final review through the budget process): 2026/27 Residential Timing Number of Proposed Budget Service services 80L General Waste Weekly 579 $210.28 120L General Waste Weekly 1984 $291.92 240L General Waste Weekly 232 $568.16 240L Mixed Fortnightly 2781 $204.62 Recycling 120L Glass Bi Monthly 2753 $102.32 Recycling The residential mandatory services will be represented on the Rates Notice from 2026/27 as waste and recycling combined charge, not an itemised service charge. b) Rural – Proposed Changes It is proposed that any new customers procuring services will be offered the 120L general waste, 240L mixed recycling and 120L glass recycling services. This will remain an optional service for rural residents. Any rural properties that currently have an 80L general waste collection or 240L general waste collection will keep that service unless the resident requests a change. 25 March 2026 35 of 72 AGENDA – ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL It is proposed that in the 2026/27 financial year the rural service will increase again by 10%. Based on the current number of services the 2026/27 charges would be as follows (subject to final review through the budget process): Rural Service Timing Number of 2026/27 services Proposed Budget 80L General Waste Weekly 36 $210.28 120L General Waste Weekly 81 $291.92 240L General Waste Weekly 156 $568.16 Mixed Recycling Fortnightly 92 $204.62 120L Glass Recycling Bi Monthly 106 $102.32 Beginning in the 2026/27 period, Rates Notices will display rural services either as a combined service when all three bins are supplied or as individual bin services, depending on the options selected and available to the ratepayer. c) Commercial - Proposed Changes It is proposed that any new services will be offered the 120L general waste, 240L mixed recycling and 120L glass recycling services. This will remain an optional service. Any commercial properties that currently have a 240L general waste collection will be maintained unless the proprietor requests a change to their service. Council’s commercial kerbside collection service is currently charged at the same rate as residential services. The commercial service fees are proposed to increase by 50% on the 25/26 charges. The reasons for this increase are as follows: i) Businesses (in most instances) can claim this charge as a tax deduction. ii) The business can request multiple number of bins i.e. a hotel. iii) A commercial business has other waste options for disposal. They can elect to take their own waste to the transfer station and therefore pay a gate fee. They could elect to engage a contractor to collect their waste i.e. skip bins. If a business owner / proprietor opts out of having a Council service, this should in turn reduce the number of lifts in the contract, therefore reducing Council’s collection costs. Based on the current number of services the 2026/27 charges would be as follows (subject to final review through the budget process): Commercial Service Timing Number of 2026/27 services Proposed Budget 120L General Waste Weekly 63 $398.07 240L General Waste Weekly 433 $774.77 Mixed Recycling Fortnightly 277 $279.03 120L Glass Recycling Bi Monthly 230 $139.53 d) Food Organic and Garden Organic Waste Bin By the conclusion of the 2026/27 period, Council will be required to introduce an additional service involving a FOGO (food organics and garden organics) bin. Pending 25 March 2026 36 of 72 AGENDA – ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL the State Government's final decision regarding the service being mandatory, it is recommended—based on survey analysis—that Council adopt a fortnightly 240L bin collection service from 01 July 2027. e) Transfer Station Fees It is recommended that the cost per cubic metre be raised to $45 in order to enhance cost recovery at the transfer stations. With projected 2024/25 volumes of approximately 200 skips throughout the year, this adjustment is anticipated to generate an additional $120,000 in revenue from the transfer stations. From 01 July 2026, the $45 per cubic metre fee is expected to match neighbouring Councils. This enables Council to continue offering free green waste and e-waste disposal for residents, a widely used service. Disposal costs for green waste are included in the cubic metre fee. f) Transfer Station Opening Hours It is proposed that operating hours be reduced at all transfer stations with the exception of Warracknabeal, only reducing hours on a weekend. This recommendation is based on the fact that Warracknabeal serves the largest population and exhibits the highest utilisation among all stations. It is also important to note that the location and operational efficiency of the Warracknabeal transfer station help offset costs at other sites. As a result, reduced days at Warracknabeal would have a greater financial impact than reducing days and hours at other transfer stations. It is also recommended that some hours are retained during the week to accommodate commercial enterprises and tradespeople. The proposed operating hours have been adjusted in accordance with the findings of the occupational health and safety assessment. Nevertheless, Council must acknowledge and accept a certain level of risk in maintaining the operation of all transfer stations. The proposed schedule from 01 July 2026 is as follows: g) Hard Waste Collection Council defines hard waste as large, bulky, or heavy household items that cannot fit into standard kerbside waste bins and require specialised collection. It typically comprises of durable goods that are broken or no longer needed. It also includes green waste (tree branches, clippings, etc). A fee-for-service hard waste collection is proposed for eligible residents being Seniors Card holders, Disability Health Care Card holders, and people residing in the township of Yaapeet and Patchewollock who currently have a skip bin service provided that is 25 March 2026 37 of 72 AGENDA – ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL proposed to cease as at 01 July 2026. The service will be offered with up to three (3) cubic metres collected per booking at $45/cubic metre. The service will be scheduled by area and available by booking on a four-week rotation. Two staff will be utilised to provide this service, and payment would be taken in the same way as it would at a transfer station. Bookings for up to 10 collections per day in each area could be accommodated, depending on truck capacity and volume. A hard waste collection schedule would be developed that allows for grouped towns and surrounding eligible rural residents to be serviced together during a particular week. For example, week 1 a collection to the northern area, week 2 to central area, week 3 to southern area. This would ensure the vehicles and staff are utilised efficiently and effectively. h) Skip-Bin in Patchewollock and Yaapeet It is recommended that the free skip-bin service offered bi-monthly in Patchewollock and Yaapeet ceases from 30 June 2026 and is replaced with the hard waste collection service. The hard waste collection service will be available to all residents that reside within the township of Patchewollock or Yaapeet. Township boundaries are set in accordance with Council’s Local Law Guidelines. i) The Little Yellow Wagon The Little Yellow wagon for recyclables will continue to be provided, which includes the offering to dispose of textiles, batteries, electrical items, paint and some chemicals. This will remain a free service. j) Transfer Station Operations Following the identification of health and safety risks during the waste and recycling review, officers intend to advise Council to assess strategies for optimising the number of operational transfer stations moving forward. A formal recommendation will be submitted to Council in early 2027, with proposed implementation commencing on 01 July 2027, to address the risks detailed in the report. The report will outline a phased plan for the closure and rehabilitation of five of the eight transfer stations, aiming to retain only three operational sites into the future, being: Murtoa, Hopetoun, and Warracknabeal. The recommendation will take into account transfer station usage over a 12-month period, participation in the hard waste fee-for-service collection, and the financial investment needed for rehabilitation at each transfer station. k) Capital Investment Transfer Stations The Council will be required to invest in upgrading facilities at Murtoa, Hopetoun, and Warracknabeal to ensure compliance with industry and operational standards. The projected capital investment for the 2026-27 financial year is expected to be up to $300,000. A detailed program outline will be submitted to Councillors during the budget deliberations scheduled for 8 April 2026, to assist in the preparation of the 2026/27 Draft Budget. l) Provisions for Rehabilitation As per the Long-Term Financial review, Council holds provisions to rehabilitate the transfer stations. It is proposed that Council prioritising the rehabilitation of Yaapeet and Patchewollock in the next 12-18 months, formally closing both transfer stations. RELEVANT LAW • Local Government Act 2020 • Circular Economy (Waste and Recycling) Act 2021 – all Victorian households with Council waste services must have access to a 4 stream system, including mandatory FOGO bin. 25 March 2026 38 of 72 AGENDA – ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL COUNCIL PLANS AND POLICIES Council Plan 2025 – 2029 Priorities Strategic Objectives A Healthy and Inclusive Community • Advocate, prioritise, and invest in infrastructure that supports an accessible, inclusive, and socially connected community to improve liveability. A Resilient and Sustainable Natural Environment • Advocate for responsible land use, with consideration for the natural environment. • Embed climate change action into everything we do with a focus on decreased emissions, heat reduction and emergency management preparedness. • Provide innovative solutions that meet the specific requirements of our community to enable compliance with the State Government Circular Economy policy. • Elevate community education and positive engagement experience as a key priority while performing regulatory functions. A Council that serves its Community • Undertake robust and transparent planning and risk management to ensure our organisation is sustainable now and into the future. • Embed good governance practices into all decision making. • Advocate for our community, on matters that are important to the entire municipal district. • Build trust through engaging with our community, delivering quality services and outcomes. • Consider a broad base of evidence before making decisions, ensuring value for money and responsive, innovative services and solutions are provided. Policies, Procedures, Guidelines, Plans, Strategies and Frameworks Policy Community Engagement Policy and Procedure Plan Long Term Financial Plan 2026-2036 Strategy Master Environment Strategy OVERARCHING GOVERNANCE PRINCIPLES This Council report has been prepared in accordance with, and to give effect to, the overarching governance principles articulated in section 9 of the Local Government Act 2020, to the extent practicable. RELATED COUNCIL DECISIONS • 28 January 2026 – Ordinary Council Meeting Minutes – 15.2 Waste and Recycling Review • 28 January 2026 – Ordinary Council Meeting Minutes – 15.1 Long Term Financial Plan 2026-2036 Recommendations OPTIONS Councillors could choose not to adopt the recommendation(s) and could propose an alternative motion for consideration of Council in accordance with the Governance Rules. SUSTAINABILITY IMPLICATIONS The Waste and Recycling review has informed the Long Term Financial Plan (10 Years) and is a key strategic tool used to ensure the financial sustainability of Council. 25 March 2026 39 of 72