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Baw Baw Council meeting snapshot - Wednesday 10 December 2025

Baw Baw Council’s 10 Dec meeting updated delegations, planning scheme amendments, social housing concerns, awarded transfer station management contract, adopted Alex Goudie Park Master Plan, approved land sale, and noted governance reports.

By news@gippsland - 10th December 2025 - Back to News

To keep our community up to date with key Council decisions, outcomes and plans; here is a snapshot summary from Council’s Wednesday 10 December Council Meeting.

Baw Baw Shire Council meeting snapshot held on 10 December 2025

Urgent Business

Council endorsed the admission of an item of urgent business, relating to Council's delegation of its powers, duties and functions under the Planning and Environment Act 1987. To ensure Officers are appropriately delegated under the revised legislation, Council executed the S6A Instrument of Delegation.
Council also re-authorised Officers to seek approval from the Minister for Planning to prepare a planning scheme amendment to rezone Council-owned land on Landsborough Street, in accordance with the amended Planning and Environment Act 1987.

Planning and development

Development Contributions Plan Overlay 1 (DCPO1) – DCPO1 Review

Council moved to:

• Note the projects to be removed from the Baw Baw Shire Development Contributions Plan and associated Schedule 1 to Clause 45.06 Development Contributions Plan Overlay (DCPO1)
• Authorised officers to request the Minister for Planning to exempt themselves from the public notification requirements of the Planning and Environment
• Act 1987 for a Planning Scheme Amendment to implement the DCPO1 review pursuant to Section 20(4) of the Planning and Environment Act 1987
• Authorised officers to request the Minister for Planning to prepare, adopt and approve a Planning Scheme Amendment pursuant to Section 20(4) of the
• Planning and Environment Act 1987, to amend the Baw Baw Shire Development Contributions Plan and the associated Schedule 1 to the Development Contributions Plan Overlay (DCPO1) generally in accordance with the details of this report
• Noted that if the Minister refuses to exercise her power under Section 20(4) of the Planning and Environment Act 1987, Council authorises officers to seek authorisation from the Minister for Planning to prepare a Planning Scheme Amendment, under Section 16F of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 (the Act) to amend the Baw Baw Shire Development Contributions Plan and the associated Schedule 1 to the Development Contributions Plan Overlay (DCPO1) generally in accordance with the details of this report; and, Baw Baw Shire Council Council Meeting - 10 December 2025
• Noted that if the Minister refuses to exercise her power under Section 20(4) of the Planning and Environment Act 1987, Council authorises officers to exhibit the amendment in accordance with Section 19 of the Act

Social Housing Proposal - 2-6 Lampard Road, Drouin

Council moved an alternate motion that council:

• Supported the increased provision of Social and Affordable Housing in Baw Baw Shire
• Objects to the development in its current form due to insufficient consideration of the potential impacts to the significant English Elms adjacent to the eastern site boundary, and non-compliance with Clause 55 of the Baw Baw Planning Scheme regarding Tree Canopy, Overshadowing Secluded Private Open Space, and Waste and Recycling
• Strongly recommends that changes be made to the proposed development to reduce the impact on these significant trees and appropriately reflect the existing neighbourhood character
• Endorsed the officer's assessment of the proposed development at 2-6 Lampard Road, Drouin, in accordance with the Baw Baw Planning Scheme
• Endorsed the submission and the associated areas of objection as per Attachment 1 to this report to be provided to the Responsible Authority for this proposal

PLA0239/24 - 30 Witton Street, Longwarry

Council moved an alternate motion to defer its consideration of PLA0239/24 - 30 Witton Street, Longwarry until no later than the end of February 2026.

PLA0001/25 - 653 Darnum-Shady Creek Road, Shady Creek

Council moved an alternate motion that Council issue Planning Permit Application PLA0001/25 for 653 Darnum–Shady Creek Road, Shady Creek, for the use and development of a dwelling, subject to conditions.

Community infrastructure

Contract Award CT000091 - Transfer Stations Management

Council moved to:

• Authorise the award of contract CT000091 to The Trustee for Rico Family Trust T/A Solo Resource Recovery, as per the recommendations contained in the 'Tender Evaluation Report - CT0000091 Transfer Station Management' for the management of Council's transfer stations
• Delegated authority to the CEO to sign the contract documents with Solo Resource Recovery and execute the award of the contract and delegate approval of variations to the CEO in compliance with Council's Procurement Policy
• Noted that the Transfer Stations Management Contract period is for four (4) years, with an option to extend the contract for a further three (3) years, and for officers to seek approval from Council to exercise the extension option, pending satisfactory performance within the initial contract term
• Resolved that Attachment 1 to the report be retained confidential on the grounds that it contains private commercial information, being information provided by a business, commercial or financial undertaking that if released, would unreasonably expose the business, commercial or financial undertaking

Alex Goudie Park Master Plan

Council adopted the Alex Goudie Park Master Plan and noted the completion of the master planning process for Alex Goudie Park.

Strategy and performance

Procurement Policy 2025-2029

• Council adopted the Baw Baw Shire Council Procurement Policy 2025 - 2029 and rescind the superseded policy dated 4 September 2024
• Authorised the Chief Executive Officer to make minor administrative amendments that do not materially change the Procurement Policy intent and set a review date of November 2027

Governance and information services

Paper lane, Lampard Road, Drouin 3818 Volume 09934 Folio 213 - Surplus Land Sale

Council:

• Pursuant to section 114 of the Local Government Act 2020, authorise officers to commence a sale process via private treaty at valuation or otherwise agreed price for the land known as part 4 Lampard Road, Drouin being the land in certificate of title volume 09934 and folio 213 in order to enable sale of the land
• Authorised the Chief Executive Officer to negotiate the sale price and sign all associated paperwork to complete the sale of the subject land known as Volume 09934 Folio 213 to Housing Choices Australia Limited ABN: 385 731 870
• Noted that the sale was advertised for public comment for a period of twenty-eight days on Council's website and in the Warragul and Drouin Gazette pursuant to Council's community engagement policy

Audit and Risk Committee Chair Report

Council noted the biannual Audit and Risk Committee Chair Report.

Governance Report December 2025

Council moved to:

• Note the December 2025 Governance Report
• Resolve that there be delegated to the person holding the position, or acting in or performing the duties, of Chief Executive Officer the powers, duties and functions set out in the attached S5 Instrument of Delegation to the Chief Executive Officer, subject to the conditions and limitations specified in that Instrument
• Note that the instrument comes into force once signed by the Council’s Interim Chief Executive Officer and the Mayor, and that on the coming into force of the instrument, all previous delegations to the Chief Executive Officer are revoked; 4. Note that the duties and functions set out in the instrument must be performed, and the powers set out in the instrument must be executed, in accordance with any guidelines or policies of Council that it may from time to time adopt
• Note the completion of the mandatory training required by the Mayor and Deputy Mayor under Section 27A of the Local Government Act 2020 (the Act)
• Note the 24 November 2025 Audit and Risk Committee Meeting Minutes
• Note the 2025 Audit and Risk Committee Self Assessment Survey results
• Note the 2.56% increase to allowances for the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, effective from 18 December 2025, in line with the Victorian Independent Remuneration Tribunal's Annual Adjustment Determination 2025; and, Baw Baw Shire Council Council Meeting - 10 December 2025
• Note the Assembly of Councillor records for 20 November to 3 December 2025

General business motion

Cr Jones submitted a general business motion relating to Battery Energy Storage Systems, reiterating the points raised previously by Council through its advocacy and community support. Cr Goss spoke against the general business motion, wishing to avoid repeating work already undertaken by Council.

Bereavement motion

Cr Lucas moved the below bereavement motion, following the recent passing of Keith Anderson. Council extended its sincere condolences to the family of Keith Anderson on his recent passing and wrote a letter of condolence on behalf of Council to his family. Council is incredibly saddened to hear of Keith’s passing and acknowledges his extensive journalism work within Baw Baw through the Warragul and Drouin Gazette.

Council meetings

Baw Baw Shire Council's Council Meetings are open to the public and are held at the West Gippsland Arts Centre. In June 2025, Council revised the Council Meeting schedule for the remainder of the year. Council Meeting dates can be viewed at Baw Baw Shire Council website.

All Council meetings will be live-streamed, and archived recordings will be available on the Council website for viewing. The agenda for the next meeting will be available online on the Friday prior to the meeting.

Pictures from Baw Baw Shire Council website.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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