Rates & spending · Nillumbik Shire Council
686-signature Eltham art museum petition sent for investigation
Nillumbik councillors unanimously referred a request for 895 Main Road to the Chief Community and Integrity Officer, leaving the proposed site and funding options unresolved.
Reporting from public council minutes. How this article was prepared
A 686-signature petition seeking 895 Main Road, Eltham, for the proposed Nillumbik Art Museum has been referred to Nillumbik Shire Council’s Chief Community and Integrity Officer for investigation and response.
The unconfirmed minutes record that councillors unanimously resolved on 27 October to receive and note the petition, which asks Council to allocate the land for the museum and investigate funding from state and federal governments and philanthropic institutions. Officers are also to advise the petition organiser of the outcome.
The resolution did not allocate 895 Main Road, commit Council funding or approve construction of the museum. The minutes do not state when the investigation or response must be completed.
For supporters, the next step is an officer response rather than a decision on the proposed museum. Any outcome on the land or funding remains unresolved in the public minutes.
What deserves a closer look
The formal next step recorded in the minutes is an investigation and response to the petition organiser, not a decision on 895 Main Road or museum funding.
The minutes do not specify a timeframe for the investigation or response.
The supplied record does not establish that these minutes have been confirmed.
Questions for follow-up reporting
What timeframe, if any, has been set for the investigation and response?
What process would Council use to decide whether 895 Main Road should be allocated to the proposed museum?
Will the response include funding research, and will it be reported to Council as well as the petition organiser?
What happens next
The Chief Community and Integrity Officer is to investigate the petition and provide a response.
Officers are to advise the petition organiser of the outcome.
Check the record
These passages were matched to the source text. Read them in context in the original minutes.
The petition contained 686 signatures from residents and requested that Council allocate 895 Main Road, Eltham, for the Nillumbik Art Museum and research funding options from state and federal governments and philanthropic institutions.
Petitions PT.004/26 Nillumbik Art Museum A petition containing 686 signatures from residents requests that Council allocate the land at 895 Main Road, Eltham for the Nillumbik Art Museum and research funding options from State and Federal governments and philanthropic institutions to support the construction of the museum.
PT.004/26 Nillumbik Art Museum
Open original minutes ↗Council referred the petition to the Chief Community and Integrity Officer for investigation and response, noted that officers would advise the petition organiser of the outcome, and recorded the resolution as carried unanimously.
2. Refers this petition to the Chief Community and Integrity Officer for investigation and response. 3. Notes that officers will advise the petition organiser of the outcome. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY Council Meeting Minutes 27 October 2026 8 10.
PT.004/26 council resolution
Open original minutes ↗The resolution received and noted the petition and referred it for investigation and response; it did not allocate the site or approve museum construction or funding.
Receives and notes the "Nillumbik Art Museum" petition which requests Council allocate the land at 895 Main Road, Eltham for the Nillumbik Art Museum and investigate potential funding opportunities, in accordance with the Governance Rule - Meeting Procedure. 2. Refers this petition to the Chief Community and Integrity Officer for investigation and response. 3. Notes that officers will advise the petition organiser of the outcome. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY Council Meeting Minutes 27 October 2026 8 10.
PT.004/26 council resolution
Open original minutes ↗The supplied record's confirmation line is blank.
Confirmed: _______________________________ Cr Naomi Joiner, Mayor
Closing confirmation line
Open original minutes ↗Source record
Reporting from the unconfirmed public minutes of Nillumbik Shire Council’s meeting held on 27 October 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- The petition contained 686 signatures from residents.
- It seeks allocation of 895 Main Road, Eltham, for the Nillumbik Art Museum.
- It asks council to investigate funding from state and federal governments and philanthropic institutions.
- Council referred the petition to the Chief Community and Integrity Officer for investigation and response.
- The unconfirmed minutes record that the resolution was carried unanimously on 27 October 2026.
Why it matters
- The petition has entered Council’s formal investigation and response process, but the resolution does not allocate the requested Eltham site or commit Council funding.