Client:
Baw Baw Shire Council
Sector/s:
Baw Baw Shire is experiencing rapid growth, bringing increased pressure on the open space network that supports community health, wellbeing and liveability.
As new development continues across the Shire, Council faces an important task: ensuring everyone has access to enough high-quality, accessible open space.
SGS worked with Baw Baw Shire Council to provide an independent assessment of open space contribution requirements and to strengthen the strategic basis for future planning and investment.
Our work involved:
- Reviewing current policy and planning controls, including state and local provisions, municipal strategies, recent VCAT decisions, Planning Panel reports, and contribution rates applied in other local government areas
- Assessing the existing open space network, including the quantity, accessibility and quality of provision across the Shire
- Analysing forecast population growth, dwelling yield and density to understand future demand
- Developing an evidence-based open space contribution rate aligned to projected need
- Testing the proposed contribution rate against Council’s current and planned expenditure to ensure it is realistic, implementable, and supported by a clear funding pathway.
This work provided Council with a robust and defensible framework for open space contributions, which resulted in a Planning Scheme Amendment.
