New ABS statistics highlight Baw Baw’s exploding population
Published on 26 April 2022
Baw Baw Shire’s exploding population growth has been highlighted in new regional statistics released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) solidifying Council’s major focus on advocacy for improved local infrastructure and services.
According to ABS, during the 2020-21 financial year period Warragul and Drouin experienced an annual growth rate of 3.7 per cent with the towns combined population rising from 40,631 to 42,115.
Overall, Baw Baw Shire’s population grew by 3.1 per cent to 56,583 giving Baw Baw Shire the third highest growth rate in regional Victoria. Comparatively, this figure far exceeded the overall growth rates of neighbouring metropolitan areas Casey and Cardinia who experienced growth of 1.2 and 2.2 per cent respectively.
This growth data confirms what is evident to local residents and businesses and is a key driving force behind Baw Baw Shire Council’s concerted advocacy efforts to secure more State and Federal Government funding support for local infrastructure and community services. With both the Federal and State Government elections fast approaching, Council’s advocacy push is ramping up.
Earlier this month, Mayor of Baw Baw Shire Cr Michael Leaney met with the incumbent Federal Member for Monash Russell Broadbent MP, Labor candidate Jessica O’Donnell and Voices for Monash candidate Deb Leonard to discuss Council’s key advocacy priorities and seek their support ahead of the election (read more on this here).
Council’s key advocacy priorities and focus areas include:
- Baw Baw Culture and Connection Precinct: A new $30 million state-of-the-art library and learning facility including a gallery and cultural space, community meeting rooms, co-working areas, cafe, rooftop terrace, underground car park in the heart of Warragul.
- Warragul and Drouin Bypass: Council is advocating to the State Government to allocate $3 million of funding to Regional Roads Victoria to design of a modern, fit-for-purpose arterial road network that can handle the amount of traffic we’re seeing now and will see in the future.
- Rokeby to Noojee Trail Extension: Extension of the existing Rokeby to Neerim Trail by a further 10kms to the north creating a link to one of Baw Baw’s key historic tourism destinations, Noojee.
- Logan Park Cycling Centre of Excellence: Developing the well-established and successful cycling hub into a functional, fit-for-purpose contemporary regional cycling centre that meets the core cycling sport facility specifications whilst also promoting community use.
- New hospital for West Gippsland: Advocacy in partnership with West Gippsland Healthcare Group to the State Government for $500 million for a new hospital at a greenfield site in parallel to Council’s adopted advocacy priorities.
Quote attributable to Mayor Cr Michael Leaney
“This staggering data highlights what we already know – Baw Baw is growing fast. It is important to note, these figures are reflective of the current data available. Projections show these numbers will continue to rise into the future and that’s why advocacy is our top priority.”
“We’re acutely aware of how this ongoing growth presents many challenges for our community and are committed to making this a better place to live. We want our community to rest assured that we are out there advocating to local, state and federal representatives seeking meaningful support for more infrastructure and services for our Shire – whether it’s social infrastructure like a new library hub or better sporting facilities, our work to seek commitment to fix the out-dated State-managed arterial road network, or even our active support for a new hospital for our region.”