FAQs

The Baw Baw Economic Land Use Strategy (the Strategy) was prepared by Baw Baw Shire Council and Charter Keck Cramer to help guide future commercial and industrial land uses across the Shire. The strategy seeks to ensure the Baw Baw community benefits from population growth through economic growth, diversification and employment opportunities, meeting the needs of households, enterprise and industry in the Shire over the next 5 to 20 years. The Strategy is influenced by the challenges and opportunities of a growing community, the role of a peri-urban growth area, the Shire’s Metropolitan and Regional connections, land supply and floor space demand and the impacts of climate change and risk.

The Strategy was adopted by Council at the Council meeting held on 26 July 2023.

Implementing the Baw Baw Economic Land Use Strategy recommendations into the Baw Baw Planning scheme will assist Baw Baw Shire Council in delivering land use policy and planning settings to support the expansion of key industries, facilitate local jobs growth, attract investment and reduce the prevalence of escape expenditure from the Shire.

C154bawb proposes to implement the recommendations of the Strategy into the Baw Baw Planning Scheme and include the Strategy as a Background Document at clause 72.08.    

The amendment seeks to make updates that support and encourage employment and economic growth in the Shire.  It is important to make these changes to:

• Capitalise on the Shire’s existing and unique strengths
• Ensures the Shire’s major settlements are able to increase employment opportunities
• Enable the supply of economic land in appropriate locations to support the economic floor space demands of a growing community
• Proactively compete within the State and the region for investment
• Deliver economic land use initiatives that support business.

Two rounds of consultation were conducted during the preparation of the Baw Baw Economic Land Use Strategy.

Initial consultation was undertaken for a 6-week period, seeking feedback on the Issues and Options Discussion Paper (background report) from 2 May to 10 June 2022. Consultation included a community drop-in session, as well as an industry briefing session.

Consultation on the draft strategy was also undertaken for a period of 6 weeks from 6 March to 16 April 2023.  Consultation included community drop-in sessions, online survey and feedback forms and direct notification to relevant key stakeholders and individual discussions with landowners and industry groups.

If you would like your position on this planning scheme amendment received by Council you must make a written submission.  

Written submissions must include;

• reference to the planning scheme amendment number, C154bawb
• set out your view on the amendment, such as your reasons for supporting or opposing the amendment
• outline any changes you would like to see with this amendment
• provide your contact details - including postal address, email address, name. These details are required to consider your submission and provide you with updates to the amendment.

The documents for planning scheme amendment C154bawb can be viewed online, via the Department of Transport and Planning's webpage.

Documents are also available to view in person on request at:

  Drouin Customer Service Centre, 33 Young Street, Drouin
  Between 8.30-5pm

  West Gippsland Arts Centre, Box Office, Corner of Smith and Albert Street Warragul
   Between 10am-4pm.

A written submission received by the closing date will be;

• Reviewed and considered by Council Officers as to inform changes to the planning scheme amendment.
• Provided to the Council Meeting and published on the website. For this meeting your personal information will be removed.
• Your submission will also be made available at the Council Offices. For this availability your personal information will be removed.
• Shared with Planning Panels Victoria, if a Planning Panel Hearing is required, at which time they will liaise with you regarding participation.