Delatite Valley Plan Adopted after two years of community collaboration

The Delatite Valley Plan has been officially adopted by Mansfield Shire Council at its regular Council meeting on 18 August 2026, marking the end of a two-year planning process shaped by extensive community input.

Mayor Cr Steve Rabie commended the collaborative effort between Council officers and the community in shaping the plan.

“This Council listens to our community and acts upon its behalf - this plan reflects that," he said.

"I commend the residents of the Delatite Valley for stepping up and speaking out about what they want for their community. This is their plan. We're pleased it's in a spot that reflects their wishes. 

"We've seen a significant amount of community engagement over the Delatite Valley Plan over the past two years. I want to commend the efforts of our officers who have put in the effort to get the plan to where it is now. This collaboration has resulted in a plan we can all be happy with.”

The Delatite Valley Plan will act as an overarching strategy to guide land use and development across the valley, providing direction on infrastructure and community initiatives.

The plan went through four drafts, with each version released for community engagement. Since July 2024, Council received 271 submissions from the community across 31 weeks of engagement, including drop-in sessions held online, at Council offices and at the Merrijig Hunt Club Hotel.

A key outcome of the adopted plan, developed in direct response to community feedback, is that there will be no proposed rezoning of the valley. This reflects the community's wish to retain the valley's existing character, giving landowners certainty over their land use while still allowing them to undertake their own strategic reviews, should they wish.

Feedback from each round of engagement was compiled into anonymous community reports, with the comments and ideas raised by residents directly informing each subsequent draft of the plan.

Community members can view the Delatite Valley Plan on Council's website at www.mansfield.vic.gov.au/community-engagement/delatite-valley-plan