Key Council plans adopted

Published on 22 October 2025

Council has today adopted five key strategic plans to guide Baw Baw Shire’s direction for the next four years.

Following an extensive community engagement campaign titled 'Shape Baw Baw for the Next Four' which started late last year soon after the Council election, Council in collaboration with community began preparing these draft strategy documents to guide their work for the term ahead.

The following plans were prepared and unanimously adopted at today’s Council Meeting:

  • Council Plan 2025-2029
  • Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan 2025-2029
  • Asset Plan 2025-2035
  • Long Term Infrastructure Plan 2025-2035
  • Financial Plan 2025-2035

Baw Baw Shire Mayor Cr Danny Goss said he was looking forward to partnering with community to progress the Council Plan over the coming years.

“We are committed to working with and for our community. We offer this 2025–2029 Council Plan as a shared step forward and a way we can all continue to build a thriving, healthy, and sustainable Baw Baw.”

More information on each plan can be found on Council’s website www.bawbawshire.vic.gov.au

The five plans are further outlined below.

Council Plan 2025-2029

The Council Plan is the key strategic document guiding the priorities, services, and initiatives of Baw Baw Shire Council over the next four years. It outlines how Council will work to improve community wellbeing, infrastructure, the environment, local economy, and governance.

A plan was developed in collaboration with the community through the ‘Shape Baw Baw for the next four’ early consultation campaign, which began in late 2024 soon after the Council election. Hundreds of community members participated – representing all walks of life, ages, and areas of the Shire.

The plan outlines focus areas and resourcing on the community vision goals:

  • Thriving, diverse and resilient communities,
  • Healthy people, living in connected communities and healthy environments, and
  • Sustainable towns and villages that continue to benefit from our beautiful rural and natural environment.

Through early engagement, the top five service priorities to focus on over the four years were identified as:

  1. Community development and health
  2. Shire planning
  3. Transport connectivity
  4. Family and children’s services
  5. Community safety (including emergency management and local laws)

The plan has been prepared per s90 of the Local Government Act 2020.

Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan 2025-2029

The Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan outlines evidence-based goals and strategies to support the health and wellbeing of our community over the next four years.

The plan focuses on four priority areas:

  1. Active living
  2. Healthy eating
  3. Wellbeing and resilience
  4. Gender equity and prevention of family violence

It identifies how Council will work with partners to support health and wellbeing in the municipality and how we will address climate health and family violence priorities.

Community input has been central to the plan’s development, gathered through a community panel, public survey and a series of engagement sessions facilitated by expert consultants Capire and Council. Building on the foundations of the previous term’s plan, this updated plan looks ahead to the next four years and reflects current community needs and emerging health priorities.

Development of this plan is a legislative requirement for all Council’s under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008, Gender Equality Act 2020 and the Local Government Act 2020.

Asset Plan 2025-2035

Baw Baw Shire Council, on behalf of the community, manages over $1.2 billion worth of assets that support the services delivered to the community.

Each year, the Council allocates funding to maximise the lifespan of its assets, including Roads, Kerb & Channel, Buildings, Stormwater drainage, Open Space, Bridges and Footpaths.

Asset Management is the tool that guides the Council as stewards of community resources, enabling the responsible management of assets, covering the entire asset lifecycle — from initial planning and design, through acquisition, operation, maintenance, renewal, and finally, disposal of assets — Asset Management provides a framework for managing a diverse range of assets.

The approach is defined by three key documents that provide structure, governance, and guidance:

  • Asset Management Policy 2025 which outlines the purpose and intention of asset management.
  • Asset Management Strategy 2025-2029 which outlines how Council will manage assets to best deliver services to our community.
  • Asset Plan 2025-2035 which 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 Long Term Finance Plan).

Long Term Infrastructure Plan 2025-2035

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

The LTIP 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 LTIP over the next 10 years include:

  • 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)
  • $4 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)

Several projects are contingent upon successful funding through Federal and State Government grant programs and contributions from external parties. These details are outlined in the LTIP. Should the Council be unsuccessful in obtaining this external grant funding, it will need to reconsider the funding models, time frames, or viability of these projects.

Financial Plan 2025-2035

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 Financial Plan 2025-2035 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.

Tagged as:
Back to top