What Can Your Local Council Do For You?
April 2023 in Events & Local Area
The City of Wyndham.
Get to know your local council and find out what can it do for you.
So what’s a council?
In Victoria, there are 79 councils representing more than 6 million people. Each one is essentially an area-based, representative government with a legislative and electoral mandate to manage local issues and plan for the needs of the local community.
That includes looking after the economic, social and cultural development of the municipal area each council represents, as well as supporting individuals and groups, and providing a wide range of services for the wellbeing of that community.
While councils implement policies, regulations and programs set by other levels of government, they’re also required to respond to local community needs. So each council will also make their own regulations and local laws to fund the delivery of community infrastructure and provide a range of services, funded by council rates collected from residents and businesses.
Council services and responsibilities.
Broadly speaking, in Victoria all councils have similar roles and responsibilities, with autonomy to provide various community services, and establish a range of discretionary processes, including local laws, to guide certain activities that can occur within their municipality.
In fact, every time you leave your house, you’re probably using services provided by your local council and it will also manage and maintain most, if not all, of the communal infrastructure and facilities near where you live including roads, community centres, sporting facilities, playgrounds and parks.
The list of services and infrastructure offered by councils will vary from one to the next depending on the needs of each local community, but generally this will include everything from aged care, and health and wellbeing, through to the drafting and enforcement of local laws, emergency management and community development. They’re definitely the best places to get information about matters like:
- Building, development, rezoning and planning;
- Rates and charges;
- Responsible pet ownership, pet registration and pound management;
- Sewage and water management;
- Swimming pool registration, inspections and compliance certificates;
- Drainage problems;
- Planning and resource allocation; and
- Council performance
What is your local council and what services does it offer?
Westbrook estate sits within the City of Wyndham, which offers a range of services across the following areas:
- Arts and Culture. Delivering festivals and events.
- Aged and Disability Services. Providing disability and seniors services, home maintenance, home assistance and respite care and meals on wheels.
- Building and planning. Issuing planning and building permits.
- Business and investment. Working with representatives of local businesses.
- Children’s Services. Providing childcare, kindergarten, immunisation, maternal and child healthcare services and coordinating playgroups.
- Community Centres and venues.
- Community consultation and Support. Work with representatives of local organisations, interest groups.
- Community Facility Hire.
- Environment and Sustainability.
- Libraries.
- Local laws and permits. Compliance and enforcement.
- Major Projects.
- Pets and Animals. Pet registration.
- Rates and valuations.
- Roads, Parking and Transport. Maintaining roads and footpaths, car parks and street lighting; supervising school crossings; issuing parking permits
- Waste and recycling. Rubbish removal.
- Venues and facilities.
- Sports, Parks and recreation. Managing and maintaining community parks, reserves, gardens; local sportsgrounds, swimming pools etc.
For more information about the range of community services and support offered by the City of Wyndham, please www.wyndham.vic.gov.au.