Living and natural environment (52%)
About this project
To shape Bayside’s plans for the next four years, we asked our community what they wanted Council to prioritise and focus on to:
- Realise the Bayside 2050 Community Vision
- Set our strategic priorities (Council Plan)
- Manage and maintain our infrastructure and assets (Asset Plan), and
- Improve quality of life (Health and Wellbeing Plan).
What we asked
Between 3 June and 4 August 2024 we gathered feedback from community members through a survey, pop-up engagement sessions in local parks and farmers' markets, meetings with Council advisory committees and stakeholder groups, and written submissions.
We heard from over 1,360 community members, including 930 people via the Future Plans engagement program and 432 people via the2024 Annual Community Satisfaction Survey.
We’ve summarised the feedback below, or you can read the complete report.
Read the complete community engagement summary report
Bayside 2050 Community Vision
Community members (731) supported the progress of all Bayside 2050 Community Vision themes, with a priority on:
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Transport, walkability and rideability (46%)
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Increase and enhance open space (42%)
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The built environment (35%)
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Community feel and direction (liveability) (35%)
Council Plan
Vision priorities broadly matched the topics participants (n=1,058) thought Council should prioritise over the next four years. The list below shows themes with over 100 mentions.
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Infrastructure to support a growing population (240 mentions)
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Developments, planning and housing density (239)
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Living and natural environment and habitat (188)
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Car movements, traffic and parking (163)
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Walking and cycling movements and infrastructure (157)
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Active open space areas (154)
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Access, inclusion and supporting those in need (154)
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Waste management and sanitation (129)
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Community safety (121)
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Council efficiency and financial sustainability (115) and Beach and foreshore (110)
Asset Plan
Most participants (81%) said they’d rather Council prioritises upgrading existing assets than build new facilities and assets.
Community members' preferences for what should be prioritised for maintenance and renewal over the next 10 years were:
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Parks and gardens (44%)
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Maintenance of the foreshore (44%)
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Park and street trees (37%)
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Footpaths (32%) and Local roads (32%)
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Libraries (25%)
Health and Wellbeing Plan
Participants (n=584) supported all 8 health and wellbeing areas over the next 4 years. These areas are: Encouraging active living, Mental health and wellbeing, Family violence, Social equity and inclusion, Climate change impacts on health (e.g. heat stress), Falls and injury prevention, Vaping and tobacco use, and Alcohol and drug use.
Community members showed stronger levels of support for:
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Encouraging active living (64%)
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Mental health and wellbeing (59%)
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Family violence (32%)
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Social equity and inclusion (31%)
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Climate change impacts on health (eg heat stress) (30%)
Participants also suggested that health among Bayside residents could be improved by encouraging active and living by providing a variety of quality facilities and spaces, and preserving our natural environment, showing how closely asset management and health and wellbeing are linked.
What we're doing (next steps)
Feedback gathered through the Future Plans engagement program will be used to shape the major strategic plans of Bayside's 2024-2029 Council, elected in October 2024.
The complete engagement summary report will be considered by Bayside’s new Council, Council staff, and the Future Plans Community Panel.
The Future Plans Community Panel, made up of around 40 people representing Bayside demographics, will meet 8 times between February and May 2025 to deliberate challenges, identify opportunities and make recommendations to Council about its Council, Financial, Asset and Health and Wellbeing Plans.
These plans are expected to be adopted by Council in June 2025.
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Timeline item 1 - active
Appoint panel
40 community members will form a Panel to deliberate the major strategic plans
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Timeline item 2 - active
Panel sessions
The Panel will meet 8 times between February and May 2025
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Timeline item 3 - active
Report presented to Councillors
Panel members' will present their recommendations to Councillors to help inform the major strategic plans
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Timeline item 4 - active
Plans adopted
The Council, Financial, Asset and Health and Wellbeing plans are expected to be adopted by Council in June 2025.
