Wellington Shire Council's vision is for happy people, healthy environment and thriving communities.
After Hours Emergency
1300 366 244Wellington Shire Council proudly supports approximately 150 community facilities, including halls and reserves, all managed by dedicated voluntary committees.
Our approach to supporting these facilities is detailed in the Community Managed Facilities Strategy 2020–2025. This strategy guides how we help volunteers and the facilities they manage to meet the needs of our community effectively.
A Committee of Management is responsible for overseeing the operation, maintenance, and development of community facilities to ensure they serve the local community effectively. The committee's key responsibilities include:
In the case of Crown Reserve Land, they manage, improve, maintain and control the land for the purposes for which it is reserved.
These community facilities remain accessible to the public because of the dedication and efforts of Committees of Management.
Committees of Management operate under different legal frameworks, depending on the type of facility and governance structure:
Community facilities in Wellington Shire are either incorporated through Consumer Affairs Victoria or appointed by the Crown. If you are unsure about the incorporation status of a facility, visit the Consumer Affairs Victoria website for more information.
Committees are encouraged to refer to their Incorporated Association Rules for detailed guidance on meeting procedures.
Wellington Shire Council supports many community facilities, regardless of who owns the land, as long as a signed agreement (such as a lease, licence, or service/funding agreement) is in place.
Key points to note:
These agreements ensure the proper use and management of community facilities while protecting the rights of landowners.
Community Facilities eligible for a Risk & maintenance subsidy must report to council annually as per the conditions in their signed agreement.
Eligible committees can apply for maintenance funding under a 60/40 arrangement, where Council funds 60% of the costs, and the committee contributes 40%. Approval is required; committee eligibility will be documented in the signed agreement.
Annual reporting requirements are necessary for reporting to Consumer Affairs Victoria, DEECA and Wellington Shire Council. If you are unsure about your reporting responsibilities, contact our Community Managed Facilities team for guidance (see contact section of this webpage).
Wellington Shire Council acknowledges the importance of additional funding for community facilities to achieve their goals. Committees are encouraged to explore the available grants, both within the Shire and through external organisations, to find opportunities that align with their objectives.
Maintenance responsibilities are documented in your signed agreement.
Wellington Shire Council requires Committees of Management to report on building maintenance to ensure the facilities available for public use are being maintained and kept in good condition, which also ensures insurance policies remain valid.
Safety within community facilities is a shared responsibility between committees and contractors. If you're unsure about your committee’s obligations, contact the Community Managed Facilities team for guidance (details in the contact section of this webpage).
Understanding the difference between maintenance and capital improvements is important:
If you have a capital improvement enquiry, please contact the Community Facilities Planning team on 1300 366 244.
Wellington Shire Council has guidelines for the maintenance and/or removal of trees and vegetation. If you are unsure of your committee obligations or require work to be undertaken at your community facility, please submit a Customer Action Request (CARS) Form.
Wellington Shire Council provides evacuation diagrams and Emergency Management Plans for community facilities. Committees must ensure that these plans and diagrams are familiar to all committee members and regular user groups so they are prepared in the event of an emergency.
Risk and insurance information is detailed in your signed agreement. To manage risk within Community Facilities, Committees require insurance.
Wellington Shire Council provides training opportunities for committees of management and their committee members. If you would like to discuss the training opportunities currently available, please contact our Community Managed Facilities team (details in the contact section of this webpage).
To help new committee members feel confident, empowered, and ready to contribute effectively from the moment they join, we recommend:
Wellington Shire is home to 80 halls and reserves, all available for community use and proudly managed by dedicated volunteer committees.
If you are a community facility committee volunteer, support is available from Wellington Shire Council. Please contact our Community Managed Facilities team by emailing cmf@wellington.vic.gov.au or calling 1300 366 244.