FAQs

There are hundreds of infrastructure programs and projects that Council could fund each year. Each program or project would add value in some way to part of the community. 

The limited funding available for infrastructure works means that only the highest priority programs and projects receive funding. 

Council uses its strategic plans, condition assessments, and prioritisation frameworks to identify projects for delivery each year as part of its Long Term Infrastructure Plan.

These projects are categorised into three distinctly different classifications for infrastructure programs in Baw Baw Shire, these are:

• Strategic Infrastructure Projects
• Infrastructure Renewal Projects and Programs
• General Infrastructure Projects and Programs

Council looks after a broad range of infrastructure across the Shire.

This infrastructure can be broadly categorised as assets relating to: 

• Local Roads
• Drainage 
• Car parks 
• Footpaths 
• Bridges 
• Open Spaces 
• Recreation 
• Buildings 

These assets are provided to make Baw Baw Shire an enjoyable place to live, work and visit. They also support the delivery of many community and recreational services across Baw Baw. 

Some community infrastructure is the responsibility of either the State or Federal Government. This infrastructure broadly falls into these categories: 

• Government Schools 
• Public Hospitals 
• Public Transport infrastructure and services 
• Arterial Roads 
• State and National Parks 
• Major Drains and Waterways 
• Utility services, including reticulated water, sewerage, power, gas and telecommunications.

A strategic infrastructure project within the LTIP is a project of significance that will provide a major benefit to both current and future generations. These are larger projects that happen across the Shire and often require a funding contribution from several sources. 

A number of these projects are required, particularly considering current and projected population growth across Baw Baw. Council will need to borrow funds to enable some of these strategic projects to happen promptly and leverage available grant funding from the State and Federal Governments.

How do strategic projects arise?

Strategic projects are usually determined through strategy development or master planning at a federal, state or local level. 

Council often uses modelling to determine when strategic projects are needed to ensure that the necessary planning and decision-making are undertaken. Strategic projects are generally of high community interest and will benefit current and future generations.

How are strategic projects prioritised?

Given that the viability of these projects is reliant on Council receiving external grant funding,

Council is planning to progress the design and planning for each of its strategic projects in a way that best aligns with upcoming state or federal government funding programs. This will help Council have suitably prepared funding applications ready for the external funding programs when they are released.

Infrastructure renewal is expenditure on an existing asset or on replacing an existing asset, which returns the service capability of the asset to that which it had been originally. 

This annual expenditure replaces the majority of, if not all assets e.g. resurfacing or re-sheeting part of a road network, replacing a section of a drainage network with pipes of the same capacity, and resurfacing an oval.

In summary, it is the replacement of an asset or a significant component of an asset so that it functions as it did when it was new. A renewal project is more than a maintenance project as maintenance works generally only slow the rate at which an asset’s condition deteriorates.

Council spends millions of dollars and thousands of hours every year on infrastructure maintenance.

How do renewal projects arise?

Renewal programs and projects are primarily determined by periodic condition assessments.

Community feedback and requests can also highlight where infrastructure conditions have deteriorated which prompts the need for an asset condition inspection. Inspection may reveal that the infrastructure requires renewal.

How are projects prioritised?

Council tracks asset performance through periodic condition assessments that help to guide decision-making about what infrastructure needs to be renewed first. 

Asset condition modelling is also undertaken to predict when current infrastructure, based on its current and past condition, will require investment for renewal.

A general infrastructure program or project in the context of this LTIP is a project where an existing asset is upgraded (or expanded) or a new asset is created. Council would not usually consider borrowing for these projects as they are smaller and generally do not rely on external funding support to make them happen.

How do renewal projects arise?

General infrastructure projects arise in a variety of ways. Most commonly, they arise from:

• Council Strategies or Master Plans
• State or Federal Government Strategies
• Community requests
• Technological advances
• Changing community needs and demands,  where outdated infrastructure no longer meets current needs
• The Warragul or Drouin Precinct Structure Plans and the three Development Contribution Plans.

How are projects prioritised?

Council has developed a Capital Evaluation Framework to prioritise which projects are delivered first. The framework considers a range of factors, including the project's alignment with the Council Plan, the risk of not completing the project, the expected community benefit as well as how progressed the project is in terms of being ready to deliver. 

It also considers the initial cost of the project but also the expected ongoing operating costs. Several existing Council plans and strategies also help to guide the prioritisation of future infrastructure projects. Additionally, some of the smaller annual general infrastructure programs do not have individual business cases as the specific projects within the program are determined by specific criteria related to the program.

The Long Term Financial Plan provides clarity on Council’s ability to fund capital works as well as meet the asset renewal requirements included within the different asset management plans.

A summary of the estimated funding available for infrastructure projects and programs from Council is shown in the table below.

These estimates are based on sound financial modelling undertaken as part of the Long Term Financial Plan and take into account the operating costs of providing the many community services across the Shire.

Council also advocates and applies for external funding opportunities to increase its ability to fund additional infrastructure projects each year. Council has attracted millions of external funding in recent years from the State and Federal Governments. Some funding opportunities fully fund infrastructure projects whilst others require a Council contribution.