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.

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 is essential to shaping Bairnsdale 2050, and there will be several ways to participate.

• A Community Panel was formed to help guide the project and advise on community involvement.
• Online participation is encouraged through the Your Say page.
• Hard copies of documents to support feedback can be requested from Council Service Centres.
• Community groups, organisations and key stakeholders will be invited to discuss the Bairnsdale's future.

Two phases of community consultation will be undertaken as part of the project. Phase 1 has been completed, with feedback used to inform the drafting the of the strategy. Phase 2 will focus on refining the draft strategy through a range of activities and opportunities to provide feedback.

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.

Phase 1 community engagement has been completed. You can view the B2050 Engagement Summary Report HERE

Phase 2 is anticipated to commence later in 2026. We encourage you to get involved in activities and opportunities that will be advertised via:

• The Your Say project page
• Social Media posts
• Local newspapers
• Letters to community groups, organisations and key stakeholders

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.

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

To date:

• Community Panel selected and have remained engaged during the development of the draft plan.
• A Background Report has been completed and is available HERE
• A Discussion Paper has been developed and is available HERE.
• Phase 1 of community consultation is complete. The Bairnsdale 2050 Community Engagement Report which presents the finding from extensive Phase 1 community engagement process can be found HERE.
• Drafting of the Bairnsdale 2050 Strategy is being finalised.

• 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 Strategic Planning Team at strategicplanning@egipps.vic.gov.au