Improving sexual and reproductive health
Council has progressed partnership-based work to improve equitable access to health supports and information. Year 1 activity included the installation of sanitary vending machines in libraries, an internal sanitary product drive for MEAC, and continued partnership on the Shepparton and Moira Sexual Wellness Action Plan 2024–27 with the Centre for Excellence in Rural Sexual Health.
This work aligns with the Council Plan’s commitment to integrated public health planning and to working with local and state-based health partners to deliver public health initiatives.
Reducing harm from tobacco and e-cigarette use
Council has made early progress through youth-focused prevention and health promotion activity. The Vaping Co-design Project was progressed in partnership with Primary Care Connect, appearing under both accessible recreational activities and youth health and wellbeing actions.
This work supports Council’s broader commitment to improving young people’s health and wellbeing through programs, partnerships and VicHealth-supported initiatives.
Improving wellbeing
Improving wellbeing is one of the strongest areas of Year 1 delivery, with activity spread across social connection, inclusion, arts and culture, reconciliation, volunteering, youth participation, community safety and emergency resilience.
Key progress included continued funding support of Neighbourhood Houses, Greater Shepparton Foundation, Headspace and GV Libraries; delivery of the VLGP Social Connections Partnership Project with Headspace; development of the Greater Shepparton Wellbeing Framework; and partnership on the GV Prevention Collaborative Annual Action Plan.
Council also supported inclusive community spaces and connection through community centres, Men’s Sheds, Community Asset Committees and Community Planning Groups.
Youth wellbeing was supported through the Youth Advisory Committee, youth-led events, first aid and mental health workshops, the Mosaic Festival, Wear It Purple Youth Disco, and other partnership initiatives.
Community participation and leadership progressed through the Community Leadership Program, which graduated 20 participants, and ongoing support for volunteering through the Volunteer Managers Network, Volunteer Recognition Awards and launch of the Volunteer Strategy.
Arts, culture and lifelong learning also contributed to wellbeing, with diverse arts programming underway, continued implementation of the Creative City Strategy, options exploration for an expanded Shepparton library venue, support for SAM, and delivery of accessible performing arts through Riverlinks.
Increasing healthy eating
Council progressed actions that support food security, healthy eating and sustainable food systems. The GV Food Systems Framework continued through the reference group, funding submissions and partnerships, with funding agreements in place with FoodShare and Shepparton Family and Financial Services.
Council also progressed work to support equitable access to safe, healthy and culturally appropriate food through funding agreements with Shepparton FoodShare, Shepparton Family and Financial Services and Neighbourhood Houses. The Healthy Child Co-design Project with Wise Well Women, GV Health, Greater Shepparton Foundation and partners is also underway.
This responds directly to the Council Plan’s health and wellbeing profile, which identifies food insecurity and fruit consumption as key local health indicators.
Increasing active living
Council made solid progress on active living through sport, recreation, open space, shared paths, inclusive programming and river access.
Sport and recreation actions are progressing through implementation of the Shepparton Sports City Master Plan, Tatura Park Precinct Master Plan and Sport and Recreation Fair Access Policy. Council officers are working with Valley Sport and stakeholders to deliver Fair Access sessions supported by communications activity.
Council completed condition assessments on sporting infrastructure and continues to review renewal priorities annually. Inclusive participation is being promoted across indoor sport facilities, with the 2025 Indoor Sport Facilities User Satisfaction Survey showing near-equal gender participation among respondents.
Accessible recreation was supported through the Activities in the Park program, with 152 activities delivered between July 2025 and January 2026, as well as local recreation projects including Tatura Dunk & Skate, youth table tennis installations and Toolamba Tennis Courts.
Active living is also being supported through urban planning, with safe and accessible neighbourhoods, public transport access and open space considered in precinct structure planning for locations such as Kialla West and Tatura.
River-based recreation progressed through the Yanha Gurtji shared path Route 2, which is nearing completion and will link North Mooroopna to other shared paths along the Goulburn and Broken Rivers.
Reducing harm from alcohol and drug use
While there are fewer actions explicitly framed around alcohol and drug harm reduction – in recognition of Council’s role relative to local agencies – Council progressed related community safety and partnership work. This included regular engagement with Victoria Police, participation in the Liquor Venues Forum, Roadsafe GV and Neighbourhood House groups, and support for initiatives such as Cool Heads and Tat Fit.
This work contributes to safer public spaces, youth engagement and prevention-oriented partnerships, supporting the broader health and wellbeing objective of reducing harms associated with risky environments and behaviours.
Tackling climate change and its impacts on health
Council progressed a broad program of climate, energy, circular economy, biodiversity, urban greening and emergency resilience actions.
Energy efficiency and resilience work included promotion of the Goulburn Murray Solar Savers program, quarterly publication of Council’s RISE sustainability newsletter, and delivery of the Keep Your Home Warm community talk at Shepparton Library.
Council began planning for solar and battery feasibility studies on Council facilities, with the first stage proposed for 2026–27 through the budget process. Council also promoted the Business Renewables Buying Group to large local energy users and planned the inaugural GV Home Energy Expo for June 2026.
Circular economy work progressed through completion of the draft Circular Economy Strategy, while targeted waste education, illegal dumping prevention and resource recovery service efficiency actions are also underway.
Biodiversity and urban greening actions included 23,000 indigenous plants through the 2025 One Tree Per Child program, 1,340 plants planted at Chivalry Drive floodway for National Tree Day, planning for wildlife corridors, and ordering 700 trees for planting through the Urban Forest Strategy program.
Climate adaptation advocacy also progressed, noting amendments to the Planning and Environment Act requiring consideration of climate change, greening and cooling.
Reducing injury
Council progressed several actions that contribute to injury prevention, including road safety, safer public spaces, sport and recreation infrastructure, shade provision and emergency preparedness.
Road safety investment is progressing through the Integrated Transport Study, aligned with the Safe System Approach.
Council’s public safety work includes safer city infrastructure, CCTV review, school crossing supervision at 26 sites, and partnerships with Victoria Police and Roadsafe GV.
Sport and recreation infrastructure condition assessments have been completed and are reviewed annually to inform future renewal programs.
Council also installed nine shade sails in 2025–26 in areas of lower socio-economic advantage, with five additional high-use play spaces planned for 2026–27 and additional natural shade to be added.
Emergency management actions are progressing through quarterly Municipal Emergency Management Planning Committee meetings, Community Emergency Management Plans for Bunbartha, Mooroopna, Murchison and Undera, and preparedness initiatives including First 72 Hours information sessions and planning for people who may experience increased vulnerability during emergencies.
