Our Community Vision 2045

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. 

The Rural City of Wangaratta officially endorsed its new Community Vision 2045 at the July Council Meeting, following extensive community engagement and consultation. 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 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 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 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.

Download the Community Vision 2045 document(PDF, 1MB)

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

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