FAQs

The Bairnsdale 2050 project will take a fresh look at opportunities for the growth and prosperity of our regional centre. It will include looking at the needs for future housing and neighbourhoods, transport, industry, and commerce, and to improve the public facilities and spaces that serve the community’s needs.

It will include a focus on the opportunities to create a vibrant and thriving town centre and to build environmental sustainability into the future development of Bairnsdale.

The project has been funded by Council and the Victorian Government and is due to be completed later in 2024.

The project is about the long-term future of Bairnsdale. It is not simply about short-term actions, or quick fixes.

Bairnsdale is East Gippsland’s main residential, commercial, community and cultural centre.

Currently, it is projected that Bairnsdale will be home to another 10,000 people and provide an additional 3,500 jobs in 2050. To make sure it remains a great place, it is important to plan for Bairnsdale’s future as our community grows and changes over the next 25 years.

Creating a vision for Bairnsdale in 2050 and planning how to get there will enable us to strike the balance of preserving what we already love about Bairnsdale, and ensuring that we are equipped to sustainably accommodate our community’s diverse needs into the future.

It is to prepare a vision for Bairnsdale for the next generation and a plan to manage change and growth over that period.

It will be a plan for Council action over the next 25 years to make Bairnsdale an even better place to live, work and play.

Almost every aspect of Bairnsdale’s future is on the agenda.

Sustainable growth, transport, housing, neighbourhoods, the CBD, community facilities, responding to climate change – these are all important challenges for the future.

As the regional centre, Bairnsdale is the hub used by the whole East Gippsland community and the views of all community members are welcome. The project will need to consider the role that Bairnsdale plays as an employment centre, transport hub and location for regional facilities and services.

Community involvement in shaping Bairnsdale 2050 is vital and there are many ways for the community to be involved.

• A Community Panel had been formed to help guide the project and make suggestions for community involvement.
• Online involvement is encouraged via the East Gippsland Your Say page.
• Hard copies of documents to assist with feedback will be available at Council Service Centres.
• Community groups and organisations will be contacted and invited to discuss the future of Bairnsdale through a workshop process.

A program of community consultation will run from 18 March to 21 April, with a further opportunity for feedback in July/August 2024.

The Community Panel was assembled in late 2023 and comprises 13 individuals with a strong personal, professional or community connection with Bairnsdale and surrounds. They were selected after a Council appointment process, which assessed applications against areas of interest and knowledge, skills and demographic representation.

The Panel is currently working with Council and a team of planning, design and economic experts to develop the Strategy.

You can review the Community Panel Terms of Reference HERE or find them in the Document Library.

We need involvement of community members to inform a new vision and future directions for Bairnsdale.

We encourage you to get involved by, posting your ideas on our ideas board, having conversations and completing the survey, attending a presentation or workshop, or participating in our interactive map activity online.

Anyone can register an email address to participate in providing ideas and feedback during the project.

Yes. If you know of a community group or interest group that would like a presentation and opportunity to discuss the project, please contact us.

The project is being managed by East Gippsland Shire Council, with funding assistance from the Victorian Planning Authority. A Community Panel has been selected to play a key role in guiding the project.

Consultants SGS Economics and Planning are providing the technical advice, using other experts in urban design and community engagement.

And the community will play a critical part in the success of the project.

To date:

• Community Panel selected.
• Meetings with the Community Panel have commenced.
• A Discussion Paper has been developed and is available for you to read HERE.
• Phase 1 of community consultation is currently underway.

• Background technical reports will be prepared for discussion.
• More opportunities for public participation will be available.
• A draft Bairnsdale 2050 plan will be made available for public feedback.

You can contact Council’s Planning Team at feedback@egipps.vic.gov.au