Road map outlines four year vision

Baw Baw Shire’s draft four-year council plan fails to acknowledge the decline of many rural small towns in the municipality, according to west ward councillor Michael Leaney.

The council plan was presented to council last month but Cr Leaney said the plan failed to address issues facing many rural towns.

Cr Leaney said was concerned the council plan was very much weighted towards growth towns including Warragul, Drouin, Trafalgar, Yarragon and Longwarry.

“They are all on the railway line. Every other town is either stagnant or going backwards.

“There is something really lacking in our plan if this is not addressed.

Cr Leaney said there was a brief mention of the struggles of rural towns in the plan.

He said the plan states the majority of future growth would occur in Warragul and Drouin and then along the freeway towns.

“However, at the same time, towns and areas away from the central growth corridor are experiencing issues with population decline,” the plan states.

Cr Leaney said this created issues in terms of facilities and services for residents in rural and remote areas as well as ongoing financial sustainability of those towns.

“It might be a small part of the population but we need to do something to address the decline beyond the highway.

“I don’t think this plan does enough to address that,” he said.

Cr Leaney said there was a real feeling of decline in some rural towns in the shire.

“We need to do something in the plan to turn around that decline beyond the highway,” he said.

A four year road map setting out long term planning, community views and councillors’ aspirations has been endorsed by Baw Baw Shire Council.

As part of its annual review process, council has revised its Council Plan which sets out key priorities for councillors during their four year term between 2017 and 2021.

After reviewing its priorities, council made two changes to the council plan:

Inclusion of a new strategy – “developing a co-ordinated approach to the planning and delivery of early years services to support Baw Baw’s growing population;”

Revision of two existing strategies relating to recreation and leisure into one strategy – “plan, manage and enhance opportunities for sport, recreation and leisure by developing new plans for growth and infrastructure and delivery of master plans.”

Introducing the plan, mayor Joe Gauci said the current council was part of one of Victoria’s fastest growing regions.

Cr Gauci said the new council team led by new chief executive officer Alison Leighton had introduced a range of initiatives to meet the needs of the ever growing community.

With planning applications growing exceptionally, he said council also would introduce a business concierge service to help guide people through the layers of paperwork before the first row of brick and mortar are laid.

“We recognise however, that everything council offers comes at a cost, challenging all of us to constantly seek new and improved ways to provide our communities with what they require without breaking the budget,” he said.

Cr Mikaela Power said the plan “represents us all.”

“We must remember that we are representing our communities and they often view things differently to council,” she said.

Cr Power said she was looking forward to the community contributing feedback on the plan and “I hope we can take on board comments from the community.”

Cr Peter Kostos said the council plan focussed on vibrant communities, thriving economy, safe and sustainable environments and organisational excellence.

“As circumstances change our council plan has to make some adjustments as well,” he said.

Cr Jessica O’Donnell said it was pleasing the revised council plan included a new strategy for early years services.

She said development of the new early learning centre in Warragul showed this was already happening and a priority for council.

Cr O’Donnell said the new plan also included planning and management for sport and leisure facilities including development of a masterplan.

“The more growth we get in the shire the more we have to plan for people being active,” she said.

Cr Tricia Jones said the plan was council’s road map and was about providing services.

She said given the proposed population growth over the next 13 years, now more than ever council needed to cater for strategic planning.

Cr Gauci said the plan was a set of ideals that council wants to achieve but it needed help because it could not rely completely on the ratepayers.

He said there had been a lot of debate amongst councillors about the plan.

“Because of respect amongst councillors we have come up with what we believe is a good document but we need the community to tell us if we got is right or wrong,” he said.

Submissions on the draft council plan close on Friday.