Council Endorses Advocacy Priorities

Council Endorses Advocacy Priorities

Published on 01 March 2019

Roads, Rail, Education and Community Infrastructure top Baw Baw Shire’s advocacy priorities for 2019.

Council formally endorsed its 2019 advocacy document, ‘A Better Future for Baw Baw’ at Wednesday’s Council meeting.

The document outlines the key projects Council will advocate for as we encourage other levels of Government and organisations to partner with us to deliver essential infrastructure over the coming years.

Baw Baw Shire continues to be one of the fastest growing areas in Victoria. As we grow, so do our needs for new and upgraded roads, education facilities, health services, recreation and local employment.

The priority projects and services identified have been developed in conjunction with our community and a broad range of key stakeholders across private and public sectors. The projects include:

Warragul-Drouin traffic management Community Hubs Sporting precincts Female friendly sporting facilities Early Learning Centres Cycling precinct at Logan Park Corporate/Government office relocation Growing Jobs in the Latrobe Valley - Mt Baw Baw, Walhalla Longwarry rezoning Indoor stadium Gippsland Regional Road Group endorsed roads Regional Rail Police services Mobile and Wi-Fi coverage Primary and secondary schools Higher education facilities West Gippsland Hospital

With the Federal election due to be held by May 2019, this presents a significant opportunity to gain the support of all parties and candidates to commit to deliver on these key advocacy priorities.

Quotes attributable to Mayor Cr Mikaela Power

“ Projected growth in Baw Baw will further change the demographics of the region, placing additional pressures on already strained infrastructure and services.

“Baw Baw’s advocacy priorities include a mix of short and long-term initiatives for investment. We hope this helps our partners within the State and Federal Governments, local candidates for the next federal election, government departments and service providers, to better understand the critical needs our community faces and ensure our service and infrastructure investment needs are supported now and into the future.”

Quotes attributable to Deputy Mayor Cr Danny Goss

“Baw Baw is a great place to live and we are attracting more people by the day. We need State and Federal Governments to deliver significant funding to supply the vital infrastructure our growing community needs.

“Council will be going to bat for Baw Baw and make sure this document is shared far and wide – every Member of Parliament, Minister and decision maker with the power to invest in Baw Baw will be well aware of our advocacy priorities.

Quotes attributable to Cr Darren Wallace

“Baw Baw Shire is growing fast. When it comes to funding, we simply can not do it all ourselves.

“Good planning like this advocacy document allows us to be agile. This plan is another example of how this Council is shifting to a proactive Council, and that’s a good thing.”