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Bass Coast Council’s 2025–26 Annual Report highlights major projects, community achievements and strong financial performance across the region

Bass Coast Council’s 2025–26 Annual Report highlights major projects, community events, environmental initiatives and financial achievements, including new trails, bike facilities and more than 369,000 native plants.

By news@gippsland - 30th October 2026 - Back to News

From opening the Inverloch to Wonthaggi Trail and the Sunset Strip Bike Jump Park, to supporting local events, planting hundreds of thousands of native plants and advocating for the future of Bass Coast, the recently adopted Bass Coast Shire Council 2025–2026 Annual Report showcases another busy year for the community.

Bass Coast Council’s 2025–26 Annual Report details community projects, services, environmental initiatives, financial performance and progress against its four-year Council Plan

Celebrating annual achievements

Adopted at today's Council Meeting, the Annual Report provides a snapshot of Council's performance over the past year, highlighting the projects, services and priorities delivered across Bass Coast. Some of the year's highlights included:

• Supporting 56 events and 35 markets, attracting more than 360,000 attendees
• Opening the Wonthaggi to Inverloch Trail
• Officially opening the Sunset Strip Bike Jump Park
• Planting more than 800 trees and supporting the planting of more than 369,000 native plants
• Welcome 110 new Australian citizens
• Awarding more than $305,000 in Community Grants
• Progressing major projects including the Cowes Streetscape Project
• Receiving state and national recognition for innovation, sustainability and disaster readiness

Bass Coast Mayor Cr Brett Tessari said the report reflected a year of strong delivery, advocacy and community partnership. "Looking back on 2025–2026, I'm proud to reflect on a year of strong advocacy, community leadership and continued progress for Bass Coast. Council has continued to invest in projects and services that make a real difference to our community, while also advocating strongly for the infrastructure, environmental protection and community facilities our growing region needs," Cr Tessari said.

Annual report details

The Annual Report also outlines Council's financial performance and progress against the first year of the Council Plan 2025–2029. This includes a capital works program that exceeded the annual budget by $1.7 million, a net debt reduction of over $5 million, whilst maintaining a balance funding statement.

The community is encouraged to take a look at the Bass Coast Shire Council 2025–2026 Annual Report, which is designed to be easy to read and includes photos, stories and highlights from across the year, helping paint a picture of the breadth of Council's work and its impact across the community.

For those wanting to dive deeper, the report also includes Council's Annual Financial Report, Performance Statement and the final Quarter 4 Performance Report, providing a comprehensive snapshot of Council's achievements, service delivery and financial performance over the 2025–2026 financial year. The Bass Coast Shire Council 2025–2026 Annual Report is available at Bass Coast Shire Council website.

Pictures from Bass Coast Shire Council Facebook page.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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  Baw Baw Shire Council has expanded its environmental rebate into three categories, helping residents buy reusable products, reduce landfill waste, improve recycling, and support more sustainable households through partial purchase rebates.
• Better Place Australia opens new Traralgon office to expand family support services across Gippsland amid rising community needs
  Better Place Australia has opened a new Traralgon office to expand family support services across Gippsland, addressing challenges including family separation, violence, financial stress and child vulnerability.
• Berninneit Gallery celebrates 'Forests Through Hoa Nguyen Immersive Art Exhibition' from 12 September to 25 October 2026
  Berninneit Art Gallery presents Becoming the Forest, featuring three large-scale drawings by Hoa Nguyen celebrating Bass Coast forests. The exhibition opens September 12, with a Living Earth Gathering on October 3.
• Councils begin planning for renewable energy growth across Wellington and South Gippsland communities
  Wellington and South Gippsland councils have begun a major renewable energy planning project, backed by $4.7 million, to prepare communities for future growth through housing, infrastructure, employment, services and economic development.
• East Gippsland Landcare Groups recognised at Victorian Awards celebrating 40 Years of environmental stewardship and community conservation efforts
  East Gippsland Landcare groups Moogji Aboriginal Council and FEVL received the First Nations Landcare Collaboration Award, while Romawi Landcare was highly commended for innovation and its ongoing conservation efforts.
• Open house Latrobe opens doors to historic, cultural and industrial sites across the region for visitors to explore and discover from 9 - 11 October 2026
  A chance to visit the most intriguing buildings and places in Latrobe City, normally behind closed doors. The festival will open up significant buildings, infrastructure and landscapes.
• Maryvale Recreation Reserve redevelopment delivers upgraded sporting facilities, accessibility and community infrastructure
  Maryvale Recreation Reserve has undergone a $1.39 million redevelopment, delivering accessible cricket facilities, upgraded amenities, improved drainage, resurfacing and safety improvements through state government and Latrobe City Council funding.
• Heyfield childcare faces closure after losing federal funding, putting local families, educators and essential community services at risk
  Heyfield's only childcare service faces closure after losing $270,000 in federal funding, prompting Darren Chester to seek urgent assistance while a Senate inquiry examines rural and regional child care access.
• Labor announces four new regional early learning centres for 2029, expanding access to kindergarten and long daycare places
  Labor will open four new Early Learning Victoria centres in Alexandra, Drouin, Hamilton and Seymour from 2029, providing more than 400 childcare and kindergarten places across regional Victoria.
• Swooping season returns across Latrobe, with council urging residents to take precautions around nesting birds
  Latrobe City Council is urging residents to stay alert during swooping season, avoid nesting areas where possible, check Victoria’s Swooping Bird Map and take precautions when walking outdoors.
• Darren Chester praises Schoolworks’ Big Bairnsdale Book Bazaar celebrating Gippsland authors, illustrators and community love of reading
  Federal Member Darren Chester praised Schoolworks Supplies for hosting The Big Bairnsdale Book Bazaar, featuring over 25 Gippsland authors and illustrators, free workshops, and celebrating local creativity, literacy and independent businesses.
• Latrobe Housing Summit explores collaborative solutions to meet growing regional housing demand and support future economic development
  Latrobe City Council’s Housing Summit brought together government, industry and community leaders to address rising housing demand, improve affordability and develop solutions supporting regional growth, investment and population increases.
• Marlo named sole East Gippsland finalist in Victorian Top Tiny Tourism Town Awards, celebrating community spirit
  Marlo was East Gippsland’s sole finalist in the Victorian Top Tiny Tourism Town Awards, recognised for its authentic visitor experiences and strong community-driven tourism campaign.
• Wellington Shire Council 2026 hard waste collection returns this spring for convenient household clean-up and recycling
  Wellington Shire Council’s annual hard waste collection returns from September 28 to October 30, offering residents convenient disposal of unwanted household items, including e-waste, while supporting recycling and reducing illegal dumping.
• Labor invests $120,000 to modernise Traralgon Library with new study pods and improved community spaces
  Harriet Shing joined Latrobe City Mayor Cr Gibson and councillors to announce a $120,000 library upgrade, jointly funded by government and council
• Stallholder applications open for 2026 Latrobe City Children's Expo connecting families and community services
  Stallholder applications have opened for the 2026 Latrobe City Children's Expo, offering organisations and entertainers the chance to connect with thousands of local families during National Children's Week celebrations.
• Darren Chester and Matt Canavan to tour Gippsland industries, meeting local employers and workers across seven regional towns
  Nationals Leader Matt Canavan will tour Gippsland for two days, visiting major energy, forestry, manufacturing and agricultural businesses to discuss regional jobs, investment and industry challenges.
• Baw Baw book boxes bring free children’s books and reading opportunities to communities across Drouin, Longwarry and Warragul
  Baw Baw Shire Council and Drouin Men’s Shed have installed community book boxes across Drouin, Longwarry and Warragul, offering free children’s books while encouraging literacy, reading and family connections.
• Bairnsdale Library unveils upgraded outdoor spaces with new shade structures, refreshed courtyard and improved facilities for community activities
  Bairnsdale Library has unveiled upgraded outdoor spaces featuring two louvred shade structures, refreshed courtyard landscaping and vegetable beds, supported by $79,104 in Living Libraries Infrastructure Program funding.
• Baw Baw Shire Council Pop-Up Playgroups wins Victorian early years award for promoting children’s health, wellbeing and community connections
  Baw Baw Shire Council’s Pop-Up Playgroups has won a 2026 Victorian Early Years Award, recognising its inclusive approach to supporting children’s wellbeing and connecting local families through play.
• Southern Rural Water manages Gippsland storages during rainfall, balancing flood risks, water supplies and community safety
  Southern Rural Water managed Gippsland water storages during significant weekend rainfall, using controlled releases to create capacity, reduce flood risks and protect community safety and water supplies.