10-year plan for the future of Baw Baw comes up $81 million short on maintenance

A July 5 council meeting has seen Baw Baw Shire unveil $317 million for future infrastructure works – while also admitting to an $81 million maintenance shortfall for which Mayor Danny Goss says is “simply not there”.

Two 10-year plans were presented during the meeting – an infrastructure plan and an asset plan - that laid out which projects Baw Baw Shire will spend money on and which of its assets it will choose to maintain over the next decade.

Council assets come up $81 million short

The draft asset management plan shows how Baw Baw Shire plans to maintain council-owned buildings and infrastructure like local roads, community centres and local playgrounds.

Over the next 10 years - according to councillors - the shire will spend $347 million on asset maintenance. It’s a lot of dough, but nowhere near enough, with modelling from the council still showing a shortfall of $81 million.

“Here’s the challenge,” Councillor Suzanne Jones told the chamber during the council meeting. “Current modelling shows we need $428 million to maintain existing service levels over the next decade, but we’ve allocated $347 million.

“If this funding gap isn’t addressed then our assets will deteriorate faster and the cost will shift from routine maintenance to more expensive renewal.”

Councillor Tricia Jones conceded the reality facing the Council was not uplifting.

“Unfortunately the reality is we may never have the funds to improve our assets,” she said, “especially our spending and borrowing money for assets, which will never bring in any revenue”.

Baw Baw Shire Mayor Danny Goss told the Gippsland Monitor the budgeting shortfall was a “gap that's growing each year”. 

“That's a problem… We don't have the money. It's just simply not there, and no one's going to fund it.”

New projects announced in $317 million draft infrastructure plan

Meanwhile, Baw Baw Shire Council has unanimously voted to endorse its $317 million, 10-year draft infrastructure plan, which includes major projects such as a $5 million Longwarry recreation pavilion.

The plan lays out $92 million in major strategic projects, $192 million in renewal and maintenance and $32 million in general capital works.

Mayor Goss told the Monitor the infrastructure plan “covers a lot of the needs of the community and it's got some exciting new stuff on there”.

The public works Mayor Goss is most excited about included the Drouin streetscape project, the second oval at Trafalgar, the finishing of the Cultural and Connection Prescinct in Warragul, a new pavilion at Western Park in Warragul, a new bike track in Warragul and the finishing of the Rokeby to Noojee trail.

Goss said he’s expecting the council will be able to get funding for a Drouin mountain bike track as well, though it is not currently in the plan.

Councillor Suzanne Jones said Baw Baw residents should “participate in the feedback phase and let us know your thoughts, the draft asset policy is designed to guide decision making and promote accountability, and enhance transparency”.

The draft plan is going out to community consultation where residents will be able to provide feedback. 

A copy of the long term infrastructure plan can be found here.

A copy of the asset management plan can be found here.