Baw Baw Shire Council publishes 2021/22 Annual Report

Published on 27 October 2022

Baw Baw Shire Council’s Annual Report of Operations has been published, providing detailed data on Council’s actions, initiatives and achievements throughout the financial year ending 30 June 2022.

This is the first Annual Report to report against the Strategic Objectives of the Council Plan 2021-2025:

A Sustainable Shire
A Healthy Community
A Thriving Community

In addition to the three strategic objectives above, the Annual Report also includes an additional reporting category, ‘Council Supporting a Sustainable, Healthy and Thriving Community and Shire’, to capture significant internal organisational initiatives and performance indicators.

The Annual Report was noted at the Council Meeting held on 26 October. It reveals a steady financial position, strong organisational performance and the successful delivery of numerous significant initiatives and projects for the benefit of the Baw Baw community - all while navigating the challenges of COVID, and the impacts of extreme weather events, inflation, construction delays and labour shortages.

A selection of Council achievements for the 2021/22 financial year are highlighted below.

To download a full copy of Council’s 2021/22 Annual Report of Operations, please visit www.bawbawshire.vic.gov.au/AnnualReport.

A Sustainable Shire:

Achieved a 17% reduction in roadside weed management requests from the community compared with the previous financial year, as a result of Council’s 2021/22 Roadside Weed and Pests Program.
Signed into long term electricity provisions contracts for its street lighting and large facilities/sites via the Victorian Energy Collaboration (VECO), which includes the use of 100% renewable energy from 1 July 2022.
Completed analysis to better understand the potential risk of climate change on the organisation’s operations.
Converted over 800 inefficient streetlights across the municipality to the most energy efficient LED lighting, through Stage 3 of Council’s LED Streetlighting Program. This project is funded through the Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program.

A Healthy Community:

Commenced Stage 1 of the Warragul Leisure Centre Expansion with funding received through Sports Recreation Victoria and the Changing Places program. The design and tender for the main contract was also completed, with the main contract set to commence around September 2022.
Commenced Phase 1 construction of the Multi-Use Pavilion at Bellbird Park, Drouin – a new female friendly, multi-use facility for users of the eastern section of Bellbird Park, including hockey, soccer and cricket clubs, schools and the general community.
Developed and instigated Council’s proactive urban zone maintenance program, resulting in a 26% reduction in community requests for maintenance, compared with the 2020/21 financial year.
Completed a two-year project to construct a state-of-the-art, multi-use pavilion at Trafalgar Recreation Precinct. The Pavilion is the new home of the Trafalgar Victory Football Club and Trafalgar Boxing Club and is available for use by community and school groups.

A Thriving Community:

Undertook more than 250,000 sq m of road resealing, and more than 20,000 sq m of road pavement repairs to address localised failures across the Council road network.
Secured more than $13 million in external funding to facilitate projects, including the Warragul Leisure Centre Stadium Expansion, Recreation Reserve Lighting Projects, Baw Baw Engage! Youth Programs, Changing Places facilities and Attentis Sensors to better prepare for emergency events.
Secured $360,000 to support the development of a Local Development Strategy for Noojee and an independent project officer to support Noojee’s economic position.
Supported more than 800 businesses through a Business Support Program designed to start, grow and support businesses at all stages of their journey.

Council Supporting a Sustainable, Healthy and Thriving Community and Shire:

Finalised and adopted the new long-term Community Vision, based on an extensive program of deliberative and community engagement to understand and prioritise the municipal community’s aspirations for the future.
Developed and adopted a new Council Plan 2021 – 2025, which aligns with the Community Vision, and sets the four-year road map for the term of the current Council.
Increased the productivity of Capital Works Delivery, which resulted in approximately $9 million more infrastructure projects delivered than in the 2020/21 financial year.
Achieved a higher than 80% success rate across all channels for resolving customer enquiries at the first point of contact.

Quote attributable to Mayor Cr Michael Leaney

“We are pleased to present Baw Baw Shire Council’s 2021/22 Annual Report of Operations and Financial Report.

These reports provide an overview of the major projects, grants and advocacy efforts, capital works and statutory information and initiatives undertaken by Council over the past financial year. It is also the first year we are reporting against the objectives of our new Council Plan 2021-2025, which was adopted in 2021 following one of the largest community consultations completed by Council.

Despite the challenges of COVID, economic impacts of inflation, construction delays and the worker shortage, it is heartening look back on the past financial year and reflect on how much has been accomplished in trying times.

Providing support for our community, building and maintaining vital shire infrastructure as well as advocating for our residents’ needs has remained this Council’s top priority and will continue to be at the forefront as we work to build a sustainable, healthy and thriving Baw Baw Shire for the future.”

Quote attributable to Acting CEO, Caz McLean

“As one of the fastest growing municipalities in Victoria, here in Baw Baw Shire we are experiencing exceptional growth with more and more residents choosing to call our beautiful region home.

With this growth and operating within a post-covid and strict rate-capped environment, our organisation must work harder, smarter and more efficiently than ever to deliver the services, infrastructure and support our community needs.

We are pleased to deliver our Annual Report for 2021/22 that highlights the significant organisational projects and initiatives undertaken by Council that work together to build a better Baw Baw for our community”.