Advocating for Baw Baw Shire 100 days out from the election

Published on 21 August 2026

With under 100 days until the Victorian State Election, Baw Baw Shire Council is calling on all candidates and political parties to recognise that community projects make the biggest difference to people’s lives.

Baw Baw Shire Mayor Councillor Kate Wilson said this countdown marked an important opportunity to highlight critical projects in need of funding that supported Baw Baw Shire’s future growth, safety and liveability.

“Over the next 100 days, we will ramp up advocacy to all candidates from both sides of politics on a clear set of endorsed priorities, asking them to respond with meaningful commitments”, said the Mayor.

“Population growth in Baw Baw Shire is straining existing infrastructure and services and there is only so much that Council can achieve with a limited budget and increasing financial pressure”, she said.

Earlier this year, Baw Baw Shire Council endorsed its shovel ready advocacy priorities ranging from key intersection upgrades, business attraction, paths and trails, sporting infrastructure, support for growing peri-urban regions, and fairer access to financial assistant grants.

Key advocacy priorities for delivery include:

• Intersection upgrades

Three critical intersection upgrades are needed to keep locals safe and the traffic moving, these include a roundabout at Weebar Road in Drouin, traffic lights at Burke Street and Howitt Street in Warragul, and traffic lights at Princes Way and Wellwood Road in Drouin.

• Paths and trails

More investment is needed in path and trail infrastructure to deliver a myriad of benefits to communities ranging from social and recreational through to economic. Council is calling to make more funding streams available to assist councils to invest in their communities’ health, wellbeing and liveability by expanding their paths and trails networks. Additionally, a further $7 million is needed to fund the planning, development and construction of a second stage of the Rokeby to Noojee Trail (from Neerim South to Noojee).

• Business Attraction

Baw Baw Shire is asking the State Government to commit to greater investment in regional business, tourism, and recreation projects to support local economic development.

• Sporting Infrastructure

Baw Baw Shire is asking the State Government for sports infrastructure funding and policy initiatives to support the necessary sports infrastructure required for our growing community.

• Financial assistance

Baw Baw Shire is asking the Federal Government to restore Financial Assistance Grants to 1% of federal taxation revenue whilst maintaining existing funding streams and to continue annual increases in Roads to Recovery (R2R) funding to both bring the funding to a level where councils can properly maintain and repair their road networks, and to keep pace with rising costs.

• Peri Urban Status

Baw Baw Shire is asking the State and Federal Governments to recognise peri urban councils in policy and in funding programs to support peri urban councils to plan, prioritise and appropriately fund major infrastructure.

• New West Gippsland Hospital

A new hospital in West Gippsland is desperately needed to replace the outdated 118-year-old hospital currently in Warragul. A 23.6-hectare greenfield site in Drouin East is ready to house a new hospital to service the growing community should the Victorian Government commit to funding this long-awaited critical project. Recently, Victorian Opposition Leader Jess Wilson visited Baw Baw Shire pledging $850 million to break ground on a new hospital if a Liberal-Nationals Coalition is elected this November. Council is calling on the Labor Party to also recommit to delivering a new hospital if elected.

“These priorities are not the only investments our community needs, but they are a strong place to start. They are ready to progress, can deliver real impact and give us an opportunity to act now rather than wait for pressures to escalate,” Cr Wilson said.

“We welcome any opportunity to discuss local priorities with election candidates and political parties over the next 100 days during this important time for Victoria.”

In partnership with councils across the state, the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) also has a clear message to election candidates with a new campaign, “The future is local. The time is now.”

This campaign calls on all candidates contesting local electorates to commit to funding the gap in community infrastructure, support safer, more engaged and more socially cohesive communities, fast track investment in roads, public transport and active transport links and ensure community voices are at the heart of the energy transition.

For more about the MAV’s “The future is local. The time is now” campaign, visit www.mav.asn.au

For more information on priority projects and ways our community can get involved in advocacy campaigns, please visit Advocacy Priorities. Every voice makes a difference to the future of Baw Baw.