Baw Baw Shire Council has adopted an Economic Land Use Strategy aimed to deliver economic investment opportunities and long-term employment benefits as the Shire continues to grow.
The adopted Strategy sets out guidelines for the allocation of commercial land within the Shire to meet the needs of enterprise, industry and households and encourage future investment to the region.
The five key objectives addressed in the Strategy are:
- Ensure population growth supports local economic growth, diversification and opportunity via the implementation of a series of economic land use initiatives.
- Facilitate the provision of new industrial land supply and floor space to support industry growth, employment opportunity and diversification.
- Facilitate the development of new commercial floor space to support the needs of a growing population.
- Deliver the Longwarry Business Park as an inter-regional economic node.
- Develop a long-term vision for the Warragul Health and Services Precinct at the Princes Way, Princes Freeway junction.
To achieve its objectives, the Strategy includes an implementation plan for delivering a series of statutory, engagement and investigation tasks. They include engagement with landholders, developers, institutional partners and government; strategic advocacy in relation to investment; and recognition of Baw Baw Shire's emerging importance in Gippsland and Victoria's peri-urban economy.
The Strategy was developed following two rounds of community consultation initially carried out in May 2022, when the issues and options discussion paper was released and then again in March and April 2023. During both periods, residents, local business owners, investors and industry groups were invited to provide feedback in writing and via drop-in session.
"Thanks to all community members and businesses who came along to the information sessions and provided submissions to develop this important planning Strategy" says Baw Baw Shire Mayor, Annemarie McCabe.
"Ultimately this Strategy is about our Shire's long term economic vision. It's about making sure we have adequate space for economic growth to accommodate the needs of our ever-growing population."
Click here to view the Economic Land Use Strategy in full.
Quote attributable to Mover, Councillor Danny Goss
"This is an important document that sets the scene for our Shire's growth.
Importantly it raises the need for more retail and industrial space, with more places for people to shop and further emphasis on economic development and employment opportunities to accommodate our growing population."
Quote attributable to Seconder, Councillor Keith Cook
"I would like to thank the community for their comprehensive submissions that contributed towards this great report.
Council has to find a balance between addressing the residential growth that we are seeing as well as providing the resources, infrastructure and employment avenues for our new residents, and essentially this report is a great start towards facilitating this."
