Community Vision 2045 Endorsed
Published on 23 July 2025
Following extensive community engagement and consultation - the Rural City of Wangaratta has officially endorsed its new Community Vision 2045 at today’s Council meeting. The Vision captures the hopes and aspirations of the community and sets the strategic direction for the next 20 years, as required by the Local Government Act 2020.
The Vision was shaped by feedback from over 2,000 community members through surveys, workshops, pop-up events, and targeted engagement activities held between November 2024 and May 2025.
The headline, The Rural City of Wangaratta is a place for everyone, was selected following specific community engagement in April and May. The vision highlights the importance of inclusivity, urban-rural balance, and the natural environment as central to Wangaratta’s identity.
The full Community Vision 2045 is:
The Rural City of Wangaratta is a Place for Everyone
We are a welcoming, connected, and caring community.
We value our urban and rural communities, ensuring shared opportunity and quality of life.
Our natural environment supports our wellbeing and forms a strong part of our cultural identity.
Our strength is our resilience and active participation in shaping a future for everyone to thrive.
Irene Grant, Mayor Rural City of Wangaratta:
“Our new Community Vision is a reflection of the hopes, priorities, and values shared by our residents. It’s the result of community input and collaboration, and I’m pleased with the collective effort that brought it to life. I believe it will guide us toward a future where everyone feels they belong.”
The Community Vision 2045 will inform Council’s planning documents, including the Council Plan 2025–2029, the Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan, and the 10-Year Financial Plan.
The Community Vision 2045 document is brought to life through artwork by King Valley artist Anita Laurence, a participant in the Council Plan workshops. Her linocut print, Under a Blue Sky (2017), is part of the Wangaratta Art Gallery Collection and features prominently in the Vision’s promotional materials.
Additional Information
Download the full Community Vision 2045 document at: www.wangaratta.vic.gov.au/Our-Community-Vision
Image: Anita Laurence, Under a Blue Sky (2017) linocut print on Somerset paper, 76.5 x 100.5cm.
Printed by Bill Young at Bill Young Studio, King Valley. Wangaratta Art Gallery Collection. Acquired with the support of the Wangaratta Art Gallery Friends Inc.