At its July Council Meeting on Tuesday, Greater Shepparton City Council voted on a way forward on the proposed Avenue of Flags project for the region, following community consultation undertaken earlier this year.
In Summary
- Council decided not to proceed with the Avenue of Flags project following community consultation.
- Instead, Council will promote the use of the existing community flagpole in Queen's Gardens, Shepparton.
- The decision follows a thorough assessment including community feedback from 234 respondents representing 33 nationalities.
- Alternative methods such as festivals, events, community spaces and art murals were favoured for acknowledging diversity.
Council voted to not proceed with the proposal or alternative options, instead voting to promote the use of the existing community flagpole in the Queen's Gardens in Shepparton.
It comes after Council was presented with a report in September 2023 which considered the purpose, initial community engagement, flag selection, potential locations, risks and whole of life cost estimates for an avenue of flags for the region. A subsequent motion was then carried for Council to write to the relevant embassies to seek engagement and a financial contribution, conduct further community consultation, and consider alternative options for the public recognition of Greater Shepparton's diverse communities.
Since this time, Council has written to several embassies regarding the proposal and community consultation was undertaken to understand the expectations around an avenue of flags, or other alternative, which recognises and acknowledges the region's diversity.
A survey was made available on Council's Shaping Greater Shepp website in March and April this year, which received a total of 234 responses. People with backgrounds representing 33 nationalities responded to the survey. Some feedback received during the consultation included:
- A total of 47 per cent of respondents rated Council as an eight or above out of ten for how well it already recognises First Nations, migrants, and refugee communities
- The value of an Avenue of Flags concept was rated three out of five
- Respondents rated festivals, events, community spaces and art murals the highest in regards to alternative ways to acknowledge the region's diversity
The consultation also identified a community flagpole as a suitable option to acknowledge our diverse community groups. The flagpole at the Queens Gardens is a community flagpole available to community groups on request.
Mayor, Councillor Shane Sali, commended Councillor Dobson for tabling the idea, and spoke to other ways we can showcase our multicultural community in our region.
"In principle I support the motion for what it is in front of us, acknowledging that we are not going to go ahead with an Avenue of Flags, but I think the intent of what Councillor Dobson was trying to achieve has merit and I believe that needs to be progressed in another form," he said.
"The conversation needs to continue about whether there's a moment there at the SAM Museum or the Heritage Centre, we have recently unveiled the Sports Hall of Fame at the Heritage Centre, so could there be an addition to showcase the impact the multicultural community have had on our broader region? I commend Councillor Dobson for tabling this idea and starting this open conversation for what things look like next."
