Chief Executive

Warrnambool City Council has a remarkable year this year, making impressive progress to maintain our city’s reputation as a great place to live, work or visit. Some of the key issues for the people in our city are housing affordability, cultural development, workforce development and environmental responsibility.

This year Council released around 700 lots of residential land onto the market in an effort to address housing affordability and land supply issues. Rezoning and developing residential land is a very long-term process and this year saw the fruition of many years work to deliver land for homes to be built at the Marakai Estate off Mortlake Road. As more people move to our city, the affordable supply of homes is becoming a critical issue, and Council is well advanced in rezoning a further 250ha of land on Woolaston Road to provide around 2,200 housing lots. The rezoning of 42ha of land on the Wangoom Road for 400 housing lots is also progressing.

Council is very conscious that these new neighbourhoods must provide a lifestyle that includes access to open spaces and linkages to key facilities. Our new neighbourhoods are being planned with walking and cycling trails, parkland, and in some instances playgrounds and shared sporting or community facilities.

Significant progress was also made this year to provide industrial land to further expand business opportunities in our city. Industrial land in Warrnambool is currently $1 million per hectare more expensive than Ballarat and Bendigo, and work to rezone land for industrial use will address this critical issue and brings jobs and economic security to our city.

This year Council also started its largest-ever capital works project with the redevelopment of the Warrnambool Entertainment Centre. The $9 million project will transform the lower end of the city centre and greatly improve our city’s ability to provide cultural experiences that cater for all people in our community. The improved theatre will have the capacity to attract a wider variety of shows, while the smaller black box theatre will be ideal for community groups and students to stage productions and events.

The achievements of our Council team have been many and impressive this year. Other significant achievements of which I am very proud include the installation of solar electricity systems on nine Council buildings and the release of Council’s Sustainable Transport Strategy. We have also improved economic benefits to our city by attracting new and exciting events like the National Kite Surfing Championships, Lacrosse Classic and the Softball Masters Championships.

And again this year we have received State and National recognition for Flagstaff Hill’s Lighthouse Lodge, the Fun4Kids Festival and the Maremma project.

We have achieved great things for our city again this year. As always it has been a team effort requiring dedicated staff, committed volunteers and involvement from people in the community. A big thankyou to everyone.

BRUCE A. ANSON
CHIEF EXECUTIVE