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Baw Baw Shire Council ramps up advocacy for roads, recreation, health and kinder investment to meet rapid population growth

Baw Baw Shire Council is advocating for major investment in roads, recreation, health, and early years infrastructure to meet growing population needs and secure the region's future.

By news@gippsland - 15th May 2025 - Back to News

Major community infrastructure, road and recreation projects are among Baw Baw Shire Council's key advocacy priorities for 2025. Baw Baw Shire Mayor Cr Danny Goss says it is crucial for Council to continue to advocate to both state and federal governments for support to build and upgrade local community infrastructure, and by doing so help Council to enhance Baw Baw Shire's livability and secure its future as a thriving, innovative region.

Community infrastructure, roads and recreation remain top 2025 advocacy priorities, with council advancing key actions from major strategic recreation plans

Growth demands investment

Cr Goss explains, "Warragul/Drouin is the fastest growing town in Australia and that massive growth is forecast to continue. The infrastructure pressures here are enormous. We need major road infrastructure to support development, and significant investment in our parks and recreation spaces. Our rapidly growing population is putting pressure on the Council to provide more sporting infrastructure and cultural spaces."

"We've been advocating hard for years to be able to build a new library here in Warragul to better meet the needs of the community. Our hard work and advocacy has paid off, construction of the new Library and Learning Centre will start later this year."

"This is the type of thing people moving here are expecting and asking for. Baw Baw Shire Council is proud to support our community now and into the future. But we cannot do it alone. We will continue to advocate to all levels of government for the support we need to keep delivering for our community and providing lifestyle and economic opportunities for our residents and investors," he said.

Council advocacy priorities

Baw Baw Shire's current advocacy priorities include:

Roads and Transport Infrastructure

Ahead of the 2025 Federal Election, both the Labor and Liberal governments committed their support to Baw Baw Shire's request to see $3 million in funding allocated to Regional Roads Victoria to design a modern, fit-for purpose arterial road network.

Monash candidate Mary Aldred also made a $4.2 million election commitment to construct a four-way roundabout at Weebar Rd, Drouin if the Liberals were elected.

Early Childhood Sector Investment

Early years reforms, introduced in 2022, aim to ensure that all 3- and 4-year-old children in Victoria have access to 15 hours of free kindergarten by 2029. Current funding provided by the state government is not anticipated to cover the full cost of the community kindergarten infrastructure required to ensure enough places are available in the Baw Baw Shire.

Baw Baw Shire Council recognises the significant value of the reforms and is appealing to the government to provide additional support to meet the disproportionate demand for places in this rapidly growing region.

New West Gippsland Hospital

Baw Baw Shire Council will continue to work with the West Gippsland Healthcare Group to pressure both the State and Federal government to deliver the new West Gippsland Hospital. "Our growing community desperately wants to see the hospital construction proceed as soon as possible. Our residents need better access to health services now, and a hospital that will allow for expansion as our population keeps increasing," says Cr Goss.

Recreation

Council will continue to progress key actions from the Baw Baw Recreation Strategy 2017-2027 and plans including, the Drouin Recreation Plan, Warragul Outdoor Recreation Plan, Rural Recreation Reserve Master Plans and the Dowton Park Master Plan.

"We are also exploring ways to secure funding for a multiphase redevelopment of Warragul's Western Park Reserve. This project will support an existing 16 football and 15 cricket teams, allowing clubs to grow and providing quality facilities for visiting clubs, local schools and community members who use the venue," says Cr Goss.

Phase one of the proposed Western Park Pavilions redevelopment will include the construction of a new satellite pavilion and kiosk to service the reserve's second oval, with further redevelopment planned for the existing main pavilion to meet contemporary AFL standards. For more on Baw Baw Shire's advocacy priorities, visit Baw Baw Shire Advocacy Priorities page.

Pictures from Baw Baw shire Council Facebook page.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com