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Baw Baw Shire Council meeting snapshot - Wednesday 22 October 2025

Baw Baw Shire Council adopted the Council, Financial, Asset, Infrastructure, and Health Plans, approved key contracts and policies, refused a Poowong East development, and addressed community grants, leases, and road management.

By news@gippsland - 22nd October 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 22 October council meeting.

Baw Baw Shire Council meeting snapshot held on 22 October 2025

Planning and development

Significant Tree Register

Council moved an amended motion to adopt the Significant Tree Study report, Significant Tree Register and the Background Report with changes. Council moved to:

• Authorise officers to seek authorisation from the Minister for Planning to prepare a Planning Scheme Amendment, under Section 8A(4)(a) of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 (the Act) to implement the recommendations of the Baw Baw Significant Tree Register project into the Baw Baw Planning Scheme
• Authorise officers to prepare the amendment generally in accordance with the Significant Tree Study report and Significant Tree Register with changes
• Authorise officers to exhibit the amendment in accordance with Section 19 of the Act

PLA0017/25 - 8 Curwen Road, Mountain View

Council moved to issue a Notice of Decision to Refuse to Grant a Permit for the land located at V 11693 F 437 Lot 3 TP 960587T Poowong East Parish, V 11626 F 790 Lot 8 Poowong East Parish, and V 11903, F 611 Lot 1 on PS 748008M Poowong East Parish be issued under the Baw Baw Shire Planning Scheme to allow the use and development of the land for a camping and caravan park and associated outbuilding subject to the following grounds:

• Proposed use and development is contrary to the objectives and strategies of the Municipal Planning Strategy and the Planning Policy Framework, in particular Clauses 14.01-1 and 14.01-1R as it does not protect agricultural land and its productive capacity, will lead to fragmentation of productive farming land, and is likely to result in land use conflicts between agricultural and sensitive uses
• Proposed use and development is not consistent with Clause 15.01- 6S Design for rural areas and Clause 15.01-6L Design for Baw Baw’s rural areas as the proposed development does not protect and enhance the rural character and is located in a prominent position on a ridgeline
• Proposed use and development is contrary to the purpose and decision guidelines of Clause 35.07 (Farming Zone) as it does not protect or support the use of land for productive agriculture. The camping and caravan park represents a non-agricultural use that does not enhance or relate to agriculture and has the potential to introduce land use conflicts with surrounding agricultural operations and limit their expansion

Community infrastructure

Presentation of the Asset Plan, Policy, and Strategy

Council adopted:

• Asset Plan (2025/26-34/35) in accordance with Section 92 of the Local Government Act 2020
• Asset Management Policy (2025)
• Asset Management Strategy (2025/26-29/30)

Presentation of the Long Term Infrastructure Plan 2025-35

Council adopted the Long Term Infrastructure Plan 2025/26 - 2034/35.

Award of Contract CT000083 - Western Park Oval 2 - New Pavilion

Council awarded Contract CT000083 Pavilion & Shed Construction - Western Park Oval 2, Warragul to Allchin Commercial Pty Ltd (ABN: 36 632 479 102) for the total lump sum of $1,804,170.00 excl. GST. Council moved to:

• Note that the grant of $1,000,000 through the State Government Regional Community Sports Infrastructure Fund (RCSIF) has been made available for the pavilion and shed construction at Western Park Oval 2
• Note the annual maintenance costs for the new pavilion facility are estimated at a cost of around $18,000 excluding GST per annum, and as such will require necessary adjustment in 2026/27 operating budget for the Facilities management
• Authorise the Interim Chief Executive Officer to sign the Contract
• Delegate approval of contract variations to the Chief Executive Officer as per the project budget and in compliance with Council's Procurement Policy
• Resolve that attachments 3 and 4 to the report be retained confidential on the grounds that they contain 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 to disadvantage, pursuant to the Local Government Act 2020 s3(1)(g)

Review of Road Management Plan including the Register of Public Roads

Council moved an alternate motion to:

• Note the written submissions received and the petition relating to the proposed changes to the service standards for Walhalla Road
• Note the response to the petition tabled at the 27 August 2025 Council Meeting
• Advise the lead petitioner of Council's decision
• Adopt the Road Management Plan (Version 8) in accordance with the Road Management Act 2004
• Adopt the Footpath Register
• Adopt the Register of Public Roads Policy and Procedure
• Adopt the Register of Public Roads in accordance with the Register of Public Roads Policy and Procedure, noting the removal of Walhalla Road as a Limited Access/Major Track, as it does not meet Council policy criteria for inclusion on the Register of Public Roads, being predominantly used for recreational purposes
• Support officers continue to advocate for DEECA to assume the maintenance responsibility of Walhalla Road

Development, grants and advocacy

Annual Report for the Financial Year ended 30 June 2025

Council noted the following:

• Annual Report of Operations for 2024/25
• That the report was prepared according to the Local Government (Planning and Reporting) Regulations 2020
• That, in accordance with section 100 of the Local Government Act 2020, Council has fulfilled its requirement to present the Annual Report at a Council Meeting open to the public no later than 31 October 2025

Strategy and performance

Presentation of the Council Plan 2025-29

Council adopted the 2025-29 Council Plan in accordance with Section 90 of the Local Government Act 2020.

Presentation of the Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan 2025-29

Council adopted the Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan 2025-29 in accordance with Section 26 of the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008.

Presentation of the Financial Plan 2025-35

Council adopted the 2025-29 Financial Plan in accordance with Section 91 of the Local Government Act 2020.

CEO Employment and Remuneration Policy

Council adopted the revised Chief Executive Officer Employment and Remuneration Policy.

Community Grants Program - Minor Capital Work and Community Projects Round 1 2025-26

Council noted the outcomes from the Community Projects Round 1 2025-2026 applications and endorsed the assessment panel recommendations for Minor Capital Work grant applications 2025-2026.

Governance and information services

Pickleball lease proposal - Brooker Park, Warragul

• Council moved to grant an exclusive commercial (retail) lease for the use of two tennis courts located at 63a Charles Street, Warragul for a term of five years with one year rent-free
• Council noted that the granting of the lease is subject to agreement from the Warragul Tennis Club to remove the two tennis courts from their licenced area
• Council moved to grant a licence for the shared use of the club rooms for a period of five years

Sutton Street and Pharaohs Road Roundabout Acquisition

• Council moved to commence a compulsory acquisition process under the Land Acquisition and Compensation Act 1986 to facilitate the construction of the roundabout identified in Warragul PSP INL-NW-03 on part of Lot D 80 Pharaohs Road, Warragul
• Council noted that a public notice of intention to acquire was published on Council's website for a period of twenty-eight days, in line with Section 112 of the Local Government Act 2020, that Council's community engagement policy applies, and that no submissions were received
• Council authorised the CEO to sign all associated documentation to facilitate the acquisition

Montague Avenue, Drouin - Sale of Carpark to Adjoining Landowner

• Council, pursuant to Section 114 of the Local Government Act 2020 authorised officers to commence a sale process via private treaty at valuation or otherwise agreed price, for the land known as 2 Montague Avenue, Drouin, being the land in certificate of title Volume 11172 and Folio 706, at valuation, noting the land was originally gifted to Baw Baw Shire by the original publican in 1974
• Council authorised the CEO to negotiate the sale price and sign the required documents to finalise the sale
• Council 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

Governance Report October 2025

Council noted the following:

• October 2025 Governance Report
• 25 September 2025 Audit and Risk Committee Meeting Minutes
• Councillor Expenses for Quarter One 2025/26
• That all Councillors have completed the prescribed mandatory annual professional development topics as specified by the Local Government (Governance and Integrity) Regulations 2020
• That declarations of the completed mandatory annual professional development topics have been signed by each Councillor and the Interim CEO as required by section 33A (4) of the Local Government Act 2020
• Assembly of Councillor records for 14 September 2025 to 15 October 2025

Notices of motion

Battery Energy Storage Systems

Councillor Brendan Kingwill raised the following motion to request that council:

• Note the State Government’s 2025 Victorian Transmission Plan, released in August 2025, and the Gippsland Renewable Energy Zone
• Write to the State Government requesting further details around renewable energy projects located in Baw Baw Shire, including a specific request for details around solar and Battery Energy Storage Systems(BESS)
• Advise the State Government that Council believes that appropriate face to face consultation should be undertaken with local communities before any BESS are approved by the State Government
• Advise the State Government and VicGrid that Baw Baw Shire Council generally comprises of top-quality soils and farming land, and many areas of the Shire such as Shady Creek, Darnum and Yarragon are inappropriate for BESS
• Expresses its concerns about the many impacts any proposed BESS will have on the farmers of Shady Creek and Yarragon
• That Council writes to Samsung and Zen expressing its opposition to the proposed BESS locations

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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• Latrobe City Business Festival returns with free October events connecting businesses, employers, job seekers and industry partners
  Latrobe City’s 2026 Business Festival runs October 14–23, offering free jobs expos, workshops, networking, professional development and business events connecting employers, workers, students and industry.
• Bass Coast invites community feedback on new decade-long nature positive strategy for environmental protection and restoration until 15 October 2026
  Bass Coast Council is seeking community feedback on its draft Nature Positive Strategy, guiding environmental protection, restoration and enhancement across the region over the next decade.
• Meet the Makers connects local producers, makers and hospitality businesses across Bass Coast and South Gippsland and other council updates
  Meet the Makers will connect Bass Coast and South Gippsland producers, makers and hospitality businesses for networking, collaboration and new opportunities.
• New Lakes Entrance fire station prioritised ahead of 2026 state election
  Council is urging the Victorian government to fund a new Lakes Entrance CFA station, replacing the 90-year-old facility to improve emergency response, safety, capacity and regional resilience.
• Latrobe City pushes for fair community benefits, transparent water pricing and long-term investment as Yallourn Mine rehabilitation progresses
  Latrobe City Council has urged fair community reinvestment, transparent water pricing and long-term funding certainty as EnergyAustralia seeks water entitlement for Yallourn Mine rehabilitation.
• Moe Town Hall seeks resident organisation to activate historic venue through regular community arts programs until 30 September 2026
  Latrobe City Council has opened expressions of interest for an organisation to establish an ongoing residency at Moe Town Hall, delivering regular arts, cultural and community activities while keeping the venue accessible.
• Latrobe City extends Phoenix partnership, securing NBL matches and delivering sporting, community and economic benefits
  Latrobe City Council has extended its partnership with South East Melbourne Phoenix, securing two NBL matches across the next two seasons, delivering elite sport, community engagement and economic benefits.
• Latrobe City endorses draft Moe Activity Centre Plan to guide future town centre growth and development
  Latrobe City Council endorsed the draft Moe Activity Centre Plan for public exhibition, outlining long-term CBD growth, planning reforms, improved public spaces and transport, with Planning Scheme Amendment C155 exhibition proposed for late 2026.
• Latrobe City opens nominations for 2027 Australia Day Awards and Sporting Hall of Fame honours, nominate by 11 September 2026
  Latrobe City Council has opened nominations for the 2027 Australia Day Awards and Sporting Hall of Fame, recognising outstanding community contributors and sporting achievers. Entries close September 11, 2026.
• Live and Loud at GPAC brings AFL Grand Final action, family fun and entertainment to Traralgon on 26 September 2026
  Latrobe City Council will host Live and Loud at GPAC on September 26, featuring family activities, entertainment, a ticketed musical-acrobat performance and free live screening of the 2026 AFL Grand Final.
• Latrobe City launches Forestree platform showcasing 63,000 public trees across urban and rural townships
  Latrobe City Council has launched Forestree, an interactive platform showcasing more than 63,000 public trees, 600 species and ongoing tree planting, watering and maintenance efforts.
• Sale residents urged to safely dispose of hazardous household chemicals at free Detox Your Home event on 10 October 2026
  Wellington Shire residents can safely dispose of unwanted hazardous household chemicals at a free Detox Your Home event in Sale, helping protect waterways, people, animals and the environment.
• New Heart Morass watering infrastructure strengthens Gippsland Lakes wetland health and protects freshwater flows for future generations
  New watering infrastructure at Heart Morass enables controlled freshwater flows, reducing salinity and supporting wetland health, wildlife habitat and long-term resilience across the Gippsland Lakes.