Have your say on the vision and plan for Baw Baw’s future

Published on 29 July 2021

The Baw Baw Shire Community Vision, draft Council Plan and draft Long Term Financial Plan are now on public exhibition. All residents are encouraged to review these important guides to our region’s future and to provide feedback, thoughts and suggestions.

The Community Vision was informed by one of the most significant and thorough community engagement processes in Baw Baw Shire’s history. It gathered input of more than 360 residents via surveys and focus groups before being developed and refined by a 42-member independent panel made up of a representative cross-section of the Baw Baw community. Working together, these diverse members of our community defined our region’s priorities for the next 20 years and beyond.

The Council Plan is a direct response to the Community Vision. It is a roadmap for achieving its goals. The Council Plan takes the Vision’s key pillars – sustainable, healthy and thriving – and puts them at the foundation of all Council activities. From community advocacy priorities, to key services, to infrastructure delivery and maintenance, the Council Plan identifies the strategies Council will employ to rise to the challenges and opportunities of the years ahead to create a sustainable, healthy and thriving Shire.

The Long Term Financial Plan is the Council’s key financial planning document. It guides the funding of our Council Plan objectives. It covers a ten-year period to assist in mapping Council’s long term financial stability and to ensure Council’s finances are sustainable into the future.

These three important documents are now presented to the community for review and feedback. All residents - young and old, newly settled or locals for generations – are invited to read them, assess them and provide feedback.

Visit www.bawbawshire.vic.gov.au/VisionandPlan to view the documents and to have your say before consultation closes on Friday 20 August.    

Quote attributable to Mayor Danny Goss

“Reading the Vision and Plans, I have great optimism for the years ahead. I commend all members of the community that have contributed so much to this project so far. The Community Vision is a genuine representation of what our community truly values and the draft Council Plan and Long Term Financial Plan are the mechanism for bringing that vision to life.

These documents really will guide our future so I ask all residents of Baw Baw Shire to take this opportunity to read them for themselves and to let us know what you think of them. Have we missed anything in these drafts? We want to know and now’s the time to tell us. Jump on the website, give them a read and let us know your thoughts.”