Have your say on the draft Council Plan and other supporting documents

What's happened so far?

The 'Shape Baw Baw For The Next Four' community engagement campaign kicked off in November 2024. Hundreds of community members participated – representing all walks of life, ages, and areas of the Shire.

  • Community survey, 157 responses.
  • Market stalls, 254 conversations across markets at Rokeby, Warragul, Longwarry, and Trafalgar.
  • Workshop sessions with stakeholders from sport and recreation, environment, and community services sectors.
  • Business walk: 76 businesses were visited

We heard that your highest service priorities for the next four years were: Community Development and Health, Shire Planning, and Transport and Connectivity.

We heard that your highest asset priorities for the next four years were: Roads and Footpaths, Natural Environment and Open Space, and Public Toilets.

Check out Shape Baw Baw - Engagement Report for all of the results.

A Baw Baw Shire Community Panel was formed and spent approximately fourteen hours together, culminating in a consolidated set of priorities and the following broader reflections and values they believed should guide Council’s planning for the next four years.

  • Commit to transparency
  • Inclusive consultation and communication
  • Value local knowledge
  • Think long-term

The aim was to form a ‘mini public’, a group of people who live, work, and/or study in Baw Baw Shire that reflect the municipality’s diversity across age, gender, location, life stage, lived experience, and background.

View the Full Community Panel Report including all priorities and observations, as well as the Council Action Summary to see how they were responded to.

These insights from the community were used to help Council shape its strategic documents.


What's happening now?

This is your chance to review the draft strategic documents and let us know if you think there is anything missing.


Treasure map:

If you are a big-picture community thinker >> See the Council Plan

If you are a health and wellbeing enthusiast >> See the Public Health and Wellbeing Plan

If buildings and facilities are your happy place >> See the Asset Plan

If you fancy yourself as a Bob-the-builder type >> See the Long Term Infrastructure Plan

If numbers and spreadsheets are your thing >> See the Financial Plan

Love them all? You are in for a treat, read on.


What is the Council Plan?

The Council Plan 2025-2029 outlines the elected Council's commitment to the community for its term. There are a number of priorities and major initiatives in the plan. Shaped around the community engagement, designed to make progress towards the Baw Baw Shire Community Vision (developed by the community in 2021).

The shared values included in the Council Plan that will guide the organisation's action over the Council term are:

  • We are committed to enhancing liveability for the people of Baw Baw Shire. This means creating safe, supportive, and vibrant communities where everyone can benefit from quality services and accessible facilities.
  • We are setting the groundwork for the next 20 years. We are laying strong foundations for the future by enhancing what makes Baw Baw unique and planning ahead for how things are built, used, and looked after over time.
  • We want our community to prosper. We support local, promote Baw Baw as open for business, and build strong relationships with business and development sectors to help our community thrive.
  • We work in unison with our community and stakeholders. We value the skills and expertise within our community, focus on building trust through better engagement and communication, and aim to keep people informed—even when things don’t go to plan.
  • We use creativity and innovation to manage our resources and assets effectively. We operate with excellence and provide value for money by reviewing our services, using technology and innovation wisely, and making sure our assets are put to their best use for the community.


What is the Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan?

The Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan 2025-2029 guides Council’s statutory responsibility under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008, Gender Equality Act 2020, and Local Government Act 2020, for improving the health and wellbeing of the Baw Baw Shire community.

The Plan focuses on four priority areas;

  1. Active Living,
  2. Healthy Eating,
  3. Wellbeing and Resilience, and
  4. Gender Equity and Prevention of Family Violence.

This Plan draws on an understanding of Baw Baw Shire’s social, economic and health profile, and best practice in addressing our community and stakeholders’ health priorities for the next four years.


What is the Asset Plan?

There are actually three documents that have been developed to build the Asset Plan.

  1. The Asset Management Policy 2025 - outlining the purpose and intention of asset management.
  2. The Asset Management Strategy 2025-2029 - outlining how we will manage our assets in order to deliver services to our community.
  3. The Asset Plan 2025-2035 - outlines the operating and capital expenditure requirements for these assets and aligns their management with Council's other strategic documents (Council Plan, Long Term Infrastructure Plan, and Financial Plan).

Each document is available for review and comment.


What is the Long Term Infrastructure Plan?

The Long Term Infrastructure Plan (LTIP) 2025-2035 outlines Council’s planned capital investments over the next decade, aligned with Council’s strategic objectives and broader planning frameworks. The plan reinforces Council’s commitment to:

  • Renewing and rehabilitating existing infrastructure
  • Delivering major strategic capital projects for long-term community benefit
  • Supporting service delivery through upgrades and new infrastructure


Key Highlights of the Draft LTIP

  • Trafalgar Library reimagined to include a kindergarten (2026/27)
  • $7.18 million allocated to early years infrastructure
  • $6 million allocated for upgrades to the Geoff Watt Track (starting 2028/29)
  • $5 million allocated for a second oval at Trafalgar Recreation Reserve (2026/27)
  • $5 million allocated to a pavilion upgrade at Longwarry Recreation Reserve (2026/27)
  • $2.2 million allocated to electrification of the Warragul Leisure Centre (starting 2025/26, subject to successful grant)
  • $1.67 million allocated to the Drouin Streetscape Project (2025/26)


What is the Financial Plan?

The Financial Plan 2025-2035 is a strategic document that aligns Council’s financial resources with its long-term goals for services and infrastructure. It ensures that the Council can deliver outcomes that reflect the Community Vision, using financial forecasts to assess future capacity and guide decisions that support long-term financial sustainability.

The Plan integrates both financial and non-financial strategies and is reviewed annually to remain responsive to changing economic conditions and evolving community needs. It incorporates

  • a total capital investment of $317 million, comprising
  • $93 million in major strategic projects,
  • $192 million in asset renewals and
  • $32 million in general capital works.

Over the next 10 years, financial projections remain positive, supported by strong liquidity, sufficient reserves, and low indebtedness that provide flexibility and resilience. While the underlying operating result shows a modest deficit and capital renewal indicators dip slightly from 2028/29, these trends present opportunities for continued proactive planning to uphold Council’s commitment to long-term sustainability.


Click the link below provide your feedback on the draft documents.

What's happened so far?

The 'Shape Baw Baw For The Next Four' community engagement campaign kicked off in November 2024. Hundreds of community members participated – representing all walks of life, ages, and areas of the Shire.

  • Community survey, 157 responses.
  • Market stalls, 254 conversations across markets at Rokeby, Warragul, Longwarry, and Trafalgar.
  • Workshop sessions with stakeholders from sport and recreation, environment, and community services sectors.
  • Business walk: 76 businesses were visited

We heard that your highest service priorities for the next four years were: Community Development and Health, Shire Planning, and Transport and Connectivity.

We heard that your highest asset priorities for the next four years were: Roads and Footpaths, Natural Environment and Open Space, and Public Toilets.

Check out Shape Baw Baw - Engagement Report for all of the results.

A Baw Baw Shire Community Panel was formed and spent approximately fourteen hours together, culminating in a consolidated set of priorities and the following broader reflections and values they believed should guide Council’s planning for the next four years.

  • Commit to transparency
  • Inclusive consultation and communication
  • Value local knowledge
  • Think long-term

The aim was to form a ‘mini public’, a group of people who live, work, and/or study in Baw Baw Shire that reflect the municipality’s diversity across age, gender, location, life stage, lived experience, and background.

View the Full Community Panel Report including all priorities and observations, as well as the Council Action Summary to see how they were responded to.

These insights from the community were used to help Council shape its strategic documents.


What's happening now?

This is your chance to review the draft strategic documents and let us know if you think there is anything missing.


Treasure map:

If you are a big-picture community thinker >> See the Council Plan

If you are a health and wellbeing enthusiast >> See the Public Health and Wellbeing Plan

If buildings and facilities are your happy place >> See the Asset Plan

If you fancy yourself as a Bob-the-builder type >> See the Long Term Infrastructure Plan

If numbers and spreadsheets are your thing >> See the Financial Plan

Love them all? You are in for a treat, read on.


What is the Council Plan?

The Council Plan 2025-2029 outlines the elected Council's commitment to the community for its term. There are a number of priorities and major initiatives in the plan. Shaped around the community engagement, designed to make progress towards the Baw Baw Shire Community Vision (developed by the community in 2021).

The shared values included in the Council Plan that will guide the organisation's action over the Council term are:

  • We are committed to enhancing liveability for the people of Baw Baw Shire. This means creating safe, supportive, and vibrant communities where everyone can benefit from quality services and accessible facilities.
  • We are setting the groundwork for the next 20 years. We are laying strong foundations for the future by enhancing what makes Baw Baw unique and planning ahead for how things are built, used, and looked after over time.
  • We want our community to prosper. We support local, promote Baw Baw as open for business, and build strong relationships with business and development sectors to help our community thrive.
  • We work in unison with our community and stakeholders. We value the skills and expertise within our community, focus on building trust through better engagement and communication, and aim to keep people informed—even when things don’t go to plan.
  • We use creativity and innovation to manage our resources and assets effectively. We operate with excellence and provide value for money by reviewing our services, using technology and innovation wisely, and making sure our assets are put to their best use for the community.


What is the Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan?

The Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan 2025-2029 guides Council’s statutory responsibility under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008, Gender Equality Act 2020, and Local Government Act 2020, for improving the health and wellbeing of the Baw Baw Shire community.

The Plan focuses on four priority areas;

  1. Active Living,
  2. Healthy Eating,
  3. Wellbeing and Resilience, and
  4. Gender Equity and Prevention of Family Violence.

This Plan draws on an understanding of Baw Baw Shire’s social, economic and health profile, and best practice in addressing our community and stakeholders’ health priorities for the next four years.


What is the Asset Plan?

There are actually three documents that have been developed to build the Asset Plan.

  1. The Asset Management Policy 2025 - outlining the purpose and intention of asset management.
  2. The Asset Management Strategy 2025-2029 - outlining how we will manage our assets in order to deliver services to our community.
  3. The Asset Plan 2025-2035 - outlines the operating and capital expenditure requirements for these assets and aligns their management with Council's other strategic documents (Council Plan, Long Term Infrastructure Plan, and Financial Plan).

Each document is available for review and comment.


What is the Long Term Infrastructure Plan?

The Long Term Infrastructure Plan (LTIP) 2025-2035 outlines Council’s planned capital investments over the next decade, aligned with Council’s strategic objectives and broader planning frameworks. The plan reinforces Council’s commitment to:

  • Renewing and rehabilitating existing infrastructure
  • Delivering major strategic capital projects for long-term community benefit
  • Supporting service delivery through upgrades and new infrastructure


Key Highlights of the Draft LTIP

  • Trafalgar Library reimagined to include a kindergarten (2026/27)
  • $7.18 million allocated to early years infrastructure
  • $6 million allocated for upgrades to the Geoff Watt Track (starting 2028/29)
  • $5 million allocated for a second oval at Trafalgar Recreation Reserve (2026/27)
  • $5 million allocated to a pavilion upgrade at Longwarry Recreation Reserve (2026/27)
  • $2.2 million allocated to electrification of the Warragul Leisure Centre (starting 2025/26, subject to successful grant)
  • $1.67 million allocated to the Drouin Streetscape Project (2025/26)


What is the Financial Plan?

The Financial Plan 2025-2035 is a strategic document that aligns Council’s financial resources with its long-term goals for services and infrastructure. It ensures that the Council can deliver outcomes that reflect the Community Vision, using financial forecasts to assess future capacity and guide decisions that support long-term financial sustainability.

The Plan integrates both financial and non-financial strategies and is reviewed annually to remain responsive to changing economic conditions and evolving community needs. It incorporates

  • a total capital investment of $317 million, comprising
  • $93 million in major strategic projects,
  • $192 million in asset renewals and
  • $32 million in general capital works.

Over the next 10 years, financial projections remain positive, supported by strong liquidity, sufficient reserves, and low indebtedness that provide flexibility and resilience. While the underlying operating result shows a modest deficit and capital renewal indicators dip slightly from 2028/29, these trends present opportunities for continued proactive planning to uphold Council’s commitment to long-term sustainability.


Click the link below provide your feedback on the draft documents.

Page last updated: 10 Jul 2025, 02:22 PM