All members of the Baw Baw Shire community are invited to attend or tune in to an open briefing on Wednesday 11 May which will provide an update on Council's ongoing advocacy initiatives.
Baw Baw Shire is one of the three fastest growing regional areas in Victoria. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Baw Baw's overall population grew by 3.1% during the 2020-21 financial year, to 56,583. In Drouin and Warragul, that growth has been even more dramatic, increasing 3.7% from 40,631 to 42,115.
Baw Baw Shire Council is committed to balancing the needs and challenges of growth while enhancing of our region's lifestyle, character, and environment. As part of this commitment, in 2021 Council identified a list of major community needs that are either State or Federal Government responsibilities, or which require the funding support of the State and Federal governments for Council to achieve.
The major priorities include:
- Traffic improvements for Drouin and Warragul (advocating on behalf of Regional Roads Victoria)
- The Baw Baw Culture and Connection precinct
- The Rokeby to Noojee Trail Extension
- The Logan Park Cycling Centre of Excellence
- A new hospital for West Gippsland (advocating on behalf of the West Gippsland Healthcare Group)
Council has been actively lobbying at all levels, and on both sides of the aisle, to get these projects on State and Federal Government agenda and secure the funding needed so they can progress.
At this open briefing, Council will provide an update to the community and to Councillors on how our advocacy efforts have progressed so far, and where they will go from here.
The briefing will be held at the West Gippsland Arts Centre's Fountain Room from 3.30pm to 4.00pm. It will also be livestreamed via Council's website and Facebook page.
All community members are invited to attend in person, or to tune in online. A recording of the briefing will also be publicly available after the session.
Any residents wishing to make a submission on the topic are invited to do so, either in writing, or verbally in person. Submissions can be made via Council's website from 1.00pm on Friday 6 May until Monday 9 May at 5.30pm.
