FAQs

The Community Vision describes the community’s aspirations for the long-term future of the Shire (the next 20-30 years). 

Having a Community Vision is a requirement of the Local Government Act 2020, which also outlines that Council's four-year Council Plans and Long Term Financial Plan, must address the Community Vision. 

This ensures that the Baw Baw Shire Community Vision is at the centre of everything that Council does. 

The Baw Baw Shire Community Vision is a sustainable shire, a healthy community, and a thriving community. 

The Community Vision was created through the biggest community consultation project Baw Baw Shire Council has undertaken to date.

It involved a community panel of 42 members, recruited from over 120 applicants, that reflected the diverse age, culture, location, ability and employment status of the Shire's residents. 

The panel participated in five discussion sessions and workshops to help develop the vision.

Informing the panel's discussions were over 300 survey responses and feedback from focus groups consisting of 35 participants and stakeholder groups, such as new residents, environmental groups, business groups, community service organisations, rural and remote residents and Councillors. 

The past three years have seen Council deliver projects, programs and initiatives to achieve the Community Vision of a healthy, sustainable and thriving Baw Baw Shire. 

The below initiatives are just a snapshot of a long list of items delivered as part of the Council Plan 2021-2025.

A Sustainable Shire

• Developed the Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2022-2030
• Created and implemented a Resolving Sustainability Fund, which enabled the replacement of over one thousand inefficient streetlights and accrued savings for future sustainability projects
• Purchased a 10.5ha property with significant biodiversity value in Drouin for the creation of a community bushland reserve
• Diverted 38,000 tonnes of waste from landfill (to be recycled)
• Began the Significant Tree Register project to further protect Baw Baw's significant trees through changes to the Baw Baw Planning Scheme
• Launched the Baw Baw Waste App

A Healthy Community

• Increased resourcing for open space planning (parks, playgrounds and reserves)
• Adopted the Yarragon Township Plan and Urban Design Framework
• Adopted the Longwarry Township Plan
• Provided high-quality recreation facilities to enable Baw Baw residents to participate in recreational activities, including but not limited to:
  • Playing surface and pavilion upgrades at Baxter Park, Warragul
  • Netball court and pavilion upgrades at Western Park, Warragul
  • Began the Warragul Leisure Centre Stadium Expansion 
  • Upgraded the playground at Civic Park, Drouin
  • Constructed a new multi-use pavilion at the Trafalgar Recreation Reserve
  • Renewed playgrounds across the Shire
• Constructed over 11km of new footpaths and reconstructed 8.7km of existing footpaths and trails - resulting in a 36% reduction in network gaps identified in 2019
• Continued service delivery through the COVID-19 pandemic
• Reviewed and refreshed the Community Grants Program, making it easier for community organisations to apply
• Awarded over $550,000 to community organisations as part of the Community Grants Program
• Collaborated with the First Nations Community and Victoria Police to deliver two annual Deadly Hoops basketball games and clinics
• A life-sized bronze sculpture celebrating the contributions and leadership of three local Kurnai women located in Drouin’s Civic Park
• Partnered with Victoria Police and Anglicare Victoria to deliver the Deadly Daughters program, providing a safe place for Indigenous girls to connect with their culture and build safe relationships with the local police
• Supported the successful Women in Business event which saw 160 attendees.

A Thriving Community

• Invested $16 million in road renewal and upgrade projects (exclusive of Council's road maintenance contract)
• Partnering with major events that provide economic opportunity, including the Australian 4 Day Enduro Event, E-Sports Tournament, Melbourne Food & Wine Village Feast, Live at the Park and Spartan Race Australia
• Launched the Baw Baw Connect platform, improving how Council conducts community engagement projects
• Advocated on behalf of our community to attract funding from State and Federal Governments for projects including: 
  • A new West Gippsland Hospital
  • Stage One of the Baw Baw Culture and Connection Precinct
  • Solutions to traffic congestion on Drouin and Warragul's arterial road network
• Successfully lobbied the State Government for the development of a new 132-place kindergarten at Drouin West Primary School.
• Delivered the new Trafalgar Early Learning Centre
• Hosted the Paint Baw Baw REaD Early Years Expo
• Activated Baw Baw's towns through the Watch This Space program
• Assisted over 450 businesses through Council's Business Support Service
• Hosted the West Gippsland Arts Centre Open Day and Forecourt Friday events

As we begin looking to the four years ahead, we invite you to express your interest in contributing to the next Council Plan.

The development of the next Council Plan will involve a panel of community members coming together with Council to plan how we can continue striving towards the goal of sustainable shire, a healthy community, and a thriving community. 

Click here to register your interest and tell us why you'd like to be involved